February 18, 2019

SENATOR MANUEL “LITO” MERCADO LAPID

Greetings!

The Cor Jesu College Law School headed by its Debate Varsity and Student Council
will host the first ever Senatorial Debate in Davao del Sur. This will be a gathering
of hundreds of college and postgraduate students all over the region, residents of
Digos City and representatives from nearby cities and provinces in Mindanao. This
will be conducted on March 8, 2019 at 1 o’clock in the afternoon at the Campus
Gymnasium of the Cor Jesu College, Digos City.

As one of the senatorial candidates for the upcoming elections, we would like to
invite you to participate in this debate and allow us to get to know you and your
perspectives better. It would be a great honor to have you in our community and be
enlightened by your platform of governance and specific stand on certain issues
Mindanaoans deeply care about.

We are looking forward to your participation in this historic event. Kindly confirm
with us within one (1) week after receipt of this letter, together with a complete list
of names of your staff who will be attending the event.

For more information on the debate, please see the attached Debate Rules or
contact the organizers through the following:
Cid Benedict Pabalan – 0917-1789-640
Atty. Bernice Piñol— 0917-7057-995/ attybernicepinol@gmail.com

Thank you and we are excited to hear from you. God bless!

Sincerely,
Atty. Genevieve Marie D.B. Paulino
Dean, Cor Jesu College Law School

COR JESU SENATORIAL DEBATES

March 8, 2019
Debate Rules:

1. Candidates are encouraged to speak in English during the debate and

when communicating with the audience.
2. No electronic gadgets, papers or documents will be allowed on stage.
A blank paper and pen will be provided for each candidate.
3. Each candidate will be called to the stage in alphabetical order, as
they are being introduced.
4. Opening Statements will be based on a general question and each
candidate will be given one (1) minute to answer.
5. During the Debate Proper, each candidate will be asked at least
seven (7) policy questions coming from the organizers, panelists and
live audience. Candidates will be given two (2) minutes to answer
each question. These questions will require a response from all the
candidates, starting from left to right in rotating sequence.
6. A candidate may rebut the statements of another candidate if they
feel strongly about the issue and after everyone has answered the
question. Candidates will be given one (1) minute to make the rebuttal
and one (1) minute to answer the same.
7. Moderators shall manage, navigate the conversation or the exchange
between candidates during the debate. This flow (general question-
rebuttal-comment to the rebuttal) will continue until all questions are
answered.
8. Candidates will be given two (2) minutes for their Closing Statement
based on a question from the moderator.