In the second part of the debate, candidates asked each other questions (the order was pre-determined). The first part of the debate, divided by commercial breaks into 3 segments, had candidates being asked questions from a panel of journalists.
Rappler editors based the choice of winner on how the candidate answered the question specifically directed at him or her.
Grace Poe was the most specific and consistent in answering her question from Rodrigo Duterte.
Maritime conflict
Duterte's question for Poe centered on maritime conflict.
Based on previous interviews, Senator Grace Poe has been consistent in her stand on the PH-China maritime dispute. During the debate, she said she believes that coordinating with other ASEAN countries such as Singapore and Indonesia can help the country in proving that China is wrong about its claims on the West Philippine Sea and that PH should continue with its arbitration case.
In her 20-point agenda, she also promised to strengthen the Coast Guard and the Armed Forces.
She, however, said before that the Philippines should not rely on the US to defend itself against China, but during the debate, she mentioned the Visiting Forces Agreement which allows US troops to train in the PH.
Zamboanga siege, Yolanda, Mamasapano
Roxas also was put on the defensive regarding the 2013 Zamboanga siege question thrown at him by Poe. The crisis did end, but only after 3 weeks. A crisis situation like that took some time to be addressed. Poe told Roxas that President Benigno Aquino III had to go to Zamboanga to help oversee the counter-attack against the Moro National Liberation Front rebels who attacked the city. Roxas did not answer this directly, citing few casualities on the part of the hostages.
Poe also said that Roxas' blunder in Zamboanga and in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda was probably the reason Aquino excluded him from the decision to allow special police forces to raid a village in Mamasapano town in January 2015 to arrest a terrorist. Roxas did not adequately respond to these issues.
Parking building
Meanwhile, Binay was questioned by Roxas about corruption allegations. Binay still has to explain how original P280 million budget for the Makati parking building got bloated to about P2 billion. He should have discussed the various contracts and the expensive toiletries, way above market price of the items the Makati government bought.
When asked by Roxas about the overpriced equipment at the Ospital ng Makati cited in a COA report, Binay initially skirts the question but later says, "We are entitled to buy mamahalin (expensive items)."
The items include sterilizers said to cost P16,000 per unit but were purchased by the Makati government for P1.5 million a piece, and ultrasound equipment priced at P1.3 million but bought for P8 million. Explaining the discrepancy, the Vice President says, "Hindi sa presyo titingnan kung tama ang kalidad ng binibili (You look at the quality, and not the price)."
Binay's question for Duterte?
Binay did not ask Duterte any question, saying that the two were qualified to be president. Duterte responded, saying Binay was "more qualified" to be president. The two shook hands.
Src: rappler.com
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