April 7, 2016, 12:46a.m. – THE UNIVERSITY will host the official vice presidential debate this Sunday, April 10 at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion—the only opportunity for the running mates to make the case for why they should be placed a heartbeat away from the presidency.
Expected to attend the verbal slugfest are:
- Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, running mate of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan party;
- Sen. Francis Escudero, independent, running mate of Sen. Grace Poe;
- Sen. Gregorio Honasan II, running mate of Vice President Jejomar Binay under the United Nationalist Alliance;
- Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., running mate of Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago under the People’s Reform Party;
- Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV of Magdalo Party; and
- Camarines Sur Rep. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, running mate of former interior and local government Secretary Manuel Roxas II under the ruling Liberal Party.
The latest Pulse Asia survey (March 15-20, 2016) placed Marcos and Escudero at first place, each with 25 percent of the vote, followed by Robredo (21%), Cayetano (14%), Honasan (5%) and Trillanes (4%).
In the Varsitarian survey conducted late last year, Marcos topped with 29 percent, followed by Robredo (17%), Escudero (15%), Cayetano (13%) and Trillanes (4%).
The debate, which will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., is open to UST students and the general public. Participants may line up on the day of the event, but entry will be on a first-come, first-served basis. More details on registration to follow.
The debate is being organized by the national Commission of Elections and CNN Philippines in partnership with the Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas, Business Mirror newspaper and UST. Paul Xavier Jaehwa C. Bernardo
