As the election campaign heats up and the issues start to come together on what is at stake for the nation, the Filipino people turn its attention to the forthcoming “Cebu Face-Off” among the leading “presidentiables”. TV5 together with the Philippine Star will host this second presidential debate on March 20, 2016 at the Performing Arts Hall at the University of the Philippines campus in Cebu City.

The “Cebu Face-Off” comes after the Cagayan de Oro first leg of “PILIPinas Presidential Debates 2016” which was held in Mindanao with the five presidential candidates in attendance. This series of COMELEC-initiated debates was the first ever since 1992 and according to Commission on Elections Chairman Andres “Andy” Bautista, was intended “to follow a provision in the Fair Election Act. The goal is to help voters make informed choices in the upcoming elections by giving them an idea where candidates stand on different important issues.”

In the tradition of fair and unbiased reporting, News5 has been a champion in providing the Filipino people with the news and information that they need in their decision-making. The Kapatid Network in its coverage of the Cebu Presidential Debate will make it a point to engage millions of Filipino viewers all over the country with its even-handed and impartial coverage across its various platforms given News5’s unsurpassed prowess in digital technology.

The “Cebu Face-Off” will be moderated by the multi-awarded broadcast journalist and head of News 5, Luchi Cruz-Valdes. With her would be a panel composed of highly respected and distinguished media personalities and journalists including: veteran journalist, Aksyon anchor and Radyo 5 commentator Erwin Tulfo; News 5 anchor, multi-awarded public affairs host and digital influencer Lourd de Veyra; DYHP RMN Cebu commentator Atty. Ruphil Bañoc; Philippine Star Managing Editor and columnist Marichu Villanueva; Bloomberg TV PH Host and economist Atty. Tony Abad; and Philippine Star Editor in Chief Ana Marie Pamintuan.

TV5 President and CEO Emmanuel C. Lorenzana said that, “the coverage of the March 20 debate is the centerpiece in our Bilang Pilipino program to provide Filipino voters and the general public, with the most extensive and in-depth coverage of the 2016 national elections.” ‘Bilang Pilipino 2016’ is the official handle of your Kapatid network’s elections coverage in partnership with PLDT, Smart, Cignal, Philippine Star, BusinessWorld, RadyoSingko, InterAksyon.com, and Bloomberg TV Philippines. Leveraging not only the multi-platform distribution capacities of the PLDT Group of which TV5 is a member, it has also forged strategic partnerships with government, civil society, the academe, and the private sector.