The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Monday announced that it will be adopting an interview format for the final round of its PiliPinas Forum 2022, a major shift from the event's previous debate structure.
It follows the poll body's previous announcement that it is pushing back the forum's last event to April 30 and May 1.
In an advisory, COMELEC said that it considered the advice of the Kapisanan ng Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), as well as the scheduling conflicts prompted by its postponement of the forum.
"In consideration of the inevitable scheduling conflicts as the candidates approach the homestretch of the campaign period, and as advised by the KBP, the COMELEC will now be adopting a Single Candidate/Team-Panel interview format," said COMELEC in a statement.
Under the new format, COMELEC Commissioner George Garcia said that the presidential and vice-presidential candidates are entitled to an hour-long panel interview from May 2 to 6.
"Kung saan nila gusto o kung gusto nila virtual o face to face kami mag-adjust," said Garcia.
(The COMELEC will adjust to wherever they want to hold it, or how they want to hold it, either virtual or face to face.)
The new structure is a major change from the previous debate format where the presidentiable and vice presidentiables faced off to answer different questions under a wide variety of topics.
It also came after several presidentiables said they are likely to skip the debates because of scheduling conflicts.
This includes the tandem of Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III, who cited their strict schedule ahead of the elections.
Presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao also expressed similar sentiments, but he said he would confirm if debate skipper Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. decides to attend.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, on the other hand, said that he would do his best to attend the new schedule for the debate.
The final event of COMELEC's PiliPinas Debates 2022 was pushed back after reported financial conflicts between debate organizer Impact Hub Manila and the management of the debate venue Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila.
