Bongbong Marcos says Jessica Soho is anti-Marcos.
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday insisted that he snubbed the interview with veteran journalist Jessica Soho because she is “anti-Marcos.”
Marcos’ camp had previously explained that Marcos had chosen to skip the interview because Soho was biased against his family and that he would rather speak directly to people on platforms he chooses.
READ: No to ‘negativity’: Marcos Jr. to only do ‘unbiased’ interviews
Marcos said his judgment that Soho is “biased” is based on his past interactions with the journalist and other Marcos family members’ experiences.
“Pinagbabasehan ko lang yung karanasan ko, ‘yung experience ko in the last few years, hindi lang ako, pati na ‘yung kapatid ko, pati na basta may kinalaman sa Marcos, talagang may bias talaga, ang pakiramdam ko,” he said in an interview over One News PH.
(I am only basing my judgment on my experiences in the past few years. Not only me but also my sibling and anyone who has any association with Marcos, there is real bias.)
When asked how a person is biased, Marcos answered, “anti-Marcos.”
As for his decision to skip the interview, he explained that he would rather discuss pressing issues in the country such as unemployment and the COVID-19 crisis and how he intends to resolve them, rather than rehashing his father’s human rights violations and plunder of the nation’s wealth during his father’s regime.
“Kung ganun na naman ang magiging usapan, wala nang silbi ‘yun kasi di naman magbabago ‘yung opinion ko, talagang mukhang maliwanag na hindi magbabago yung opinion niya, so hindi namin mapapag-usapan ‘yung para sa ‘kin ‘yung importanteng pag-usapan,” he said.
(If that topic comes up again, the interview will be useless since neither my opinion nor her opinion will change, so we would not be able to discuss what I think is important.)
In response to netizens calling him a “coward,” Marcos said he would not back down in any situation, whether it is a debate or an interview, provided the topic is something he would like to discuss.
“Siguro naman sa pinagdaanan ko sa buhay, maliwanag naman na hindi ako duwag na tao. Lahat naman hinaharap ko eh, basta ang mahalaga sa ‘kin ay pag-usapan natin kung ano ang iniisip, ano ang inaalala, kung ano ang importante sa taumbayan, hindi sa mga pulitiko, hindi sa mga partido, hindi sa mga kalaban, hindi sa kakampi,” he said.
(After all that I have been through, it is apparent that I am not a coward. As I face everything, what is important to me is that we discuss the concerns of the public, not the concerns of politicians, parties, opponents, or allies.)
“Wala naman akong inaatrasan na kahit ano. I have debated for the vice presidentials. Nag-debate ako, lahat tinatanggap ko, wala naman akong iniiwasan, basta talaga ang ninanais ko lang ay pag-usapan natin ang issues of the day,” he added.
(Nothing made me back down. I had debated before when I ran for vice president. I accepted interviews. I am not avoiding anything. What I would like to talk about are today’s issues.)