Watch Third Philippines Presidential Debate Live Online: Start Time, Streaming Video For PiliPinas Debates 2016 Series

Viewers can watch the third Philippines presidential debate live online and see the candidates in what will be their final pitch to voters before next month’s election.

The third and final debate in the PiliPinas Debates 2016 series will be held Sunday at the University of Pangasinan Phinma in Dagupan City, PhilStar noted. The Philippines presidential debate is initiated by the Commission on Elections and hosted by television network ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin. It will be broadcast on ABS-CBN at 5:45 p.m., and also available online for those who plan to watch via live streaming video (a link to the video can be found below).

Those who watch the third Philippines presidential debate live online will see all five candidates on stage at the same time — Senator Grace Poe, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, and Liberal Party representative Manuel “Mar” Roxas II.

Viewers who watch the final PiliPinas Debate live online will see voters addressing the candidates directly — and the candidates addressing one another. The debate will be conducted in a town hall format, with the public asking questions that will be answered by all candidates. There is also a face-off section where the candidates can directly challenge each other.

“The sectoral representatives were chosen among thousands of Filipinos all over the nation and the world who sent in their queries for the presidential candidates via ABS-CBN’s ‘Halalan Hugot’ campaign,” ABS-CBN said in a statement on Thursday. Topics for the debate include job security, foreign policy, education, concerns of overseas Filipino workers, and promoting peace in the Mindanao conflict.

The final Philippines presidential debate is a seen as one of the most important events in the remaining weeks of the campaign, which has been a tight race.

“This is the final opportunity for voters to know and gauge the candidates. This is also a good chance for candidates to explain their platforms and solutions to the country’s problems,” said Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista.

Viewers who watch the third Philippines presidential debate live online will see if Duterte can move past his controversial statements that emerged in the last week. Video surfaced showing him making a joke about the 1989 rape and murder of an Australian missionary.

“I was angry she was raped, yes that was one thing. But she was so beautiful, I think the mayor should have been first. What a waste,” he said (via CNN) of the attack in Davao City, where he has served as mayor.

He has been defiant as the controversy grew, refusing to apologize and even disavowing an apology issued by his party.

Duterte has been equally unapologetic about his reputation as mayor of Davao City, a metro area of 1.5 million people. His tough approach to crime earned him notoriety, and there were rumors that he was connected to a group of vigilantes that conducted extrajudicial killings.

Duterte seemed to confirm the allegations in a television interview last year.

“Me? They are saying that I’m part of a death squad? True, that’s true,” he said in a mix of English and Visayan.

.@RRD_Davao: "The drug pushers, kidnappers, robbers, find them all and arrest them. If they resist, kill them all." https://t.co/gyXz6Wk4cj

— GMA Integrated News (@gmanews) April 23, 2016

Top #Philippines presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte pushes 'kill criminals' message https://t.co/5HIaZiSy1c pic.twitter.com/c8pLkSFCPz

— The Straits Times (@straits_times) April 23, 2016

The flap has not slowed Duterte, who has been busy on the campaign trail leading up to the third debate. He was the guest speaker on Saturday at the graduation rites of the Lyceum of the Philippines at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City, his alma mater. From there he went to Novaliches, Quezon City, where he hosted a motorcycle rally.

The constant campaigning has also taken his attention of the debate. At a stop in Silang, Cavite, Duterte was asked how much he’s preparing for Sunday’s PiliPinas Debate.

“Not so much,” he said (via the Inquirer).

Duterte also has his post-debate schedule made up, including a rally in the key voting province of Pangasinan.

Viewers who want to watch the third Philippines presidential debate live online can click here for streaming video of the final in the PiliPinas Debates 2016 series.

[Photo by KJ Rosale/Associated Press]