(REUTERS) — Five Filipino presidential candidates took the stage and answered a range of questions on issues, including the South China Sea, in the last of a three-part televised debate on Sunday (April 24) ahead of May 9 presidential elections.
Vice President Jejomar Binay, Senator Miriam Santiago, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Grace Poe and Interior Minister Manuel Roxas were asked about their platforms on poverty, corruption, health and territorial disputes with China.
Each of the candidates chose diplomacy as the primary method in dealing with China, which claims almost the entire South China Sea – believed to have huge deposits of oil and gas.
The Philippines has sought international arbitration in the dispute and a decision is expected late this month or in early May. China has declined to take part in the case.
China claims Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the waters, through which about $5 trillion in trade is shipped every year.
The debate at a University in Pangasisnan, north of Manila, was organised by the Commission on Elections in hopes of educating the people to vote wisely in contrast to traditional campaigning which focuses on personalities.
Duterte, an outspoken mayor running on promises of a crackdown on crime and drugs, has increased his lead in an opinion poll released on Sunday, just two weeks away from the election.
Duterte was the number one choice of 34 percent of Filipinos in the Pulse Asia survey, gaining by two percentage points from last week and widening the gap from his closest rival Senator Grace Poe.
Poe, the adopted daughter of movie stars, slipped from 25 percent to 22 percent support among the 4,000 people polled from April 12-17.
It showed Binay slipping one point to 19 percent and Roxas, who is backed by outgoing President Benigno Aquino, staying at 18 percent.
Aquino, whose administration has championed a strong economy, is set to step down in June and ending his six-year term.
About 54 million Filipinos are eligible to vote in next month elections.