#MarcosDuwag? ‘Hindi ako duwag na tao’, Marcos says after skipping Jessica Soho interview

Bongbong Marcos: I’m no coward.

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. maintained on Monday he is not a “coward” after snubbing the interview with veteran journalist Jessica Soho who he earlier dubbed as “biased.”

Marcos said this after #MarcosDuwag made rounds on social media, with some netizens criticizing his decision not to attend the televised interview with Soho. The interview was attended by his fellow presidential aspirants—Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila City mayor Isko Moreno, and Vice President Leni Robredo.

READ: No to ‘negativity’: Marcos Jr. to only do ‘unbiased’ interviews

“Siguro naman sa pinagdaanan ko sa buhay, maliwanag naman na hindi ako duwag na tao,” Marcos said during an interview with One News PH.

(With what I have experienced in life, it is clear that I am not a coward.)

Marcos said he is ready to face debates but stressed that the discussions should be on the concerns deemed important by the public.

“Lahat naman hinaharap ko eh, basta ang mahalaga sakin ay pag-usapan natin kung ano ang iniisip, ano ang inaalala, kung ano ang importante sa taumbayan—‘di sa mga pulitiko, hindi sa mga partido, hindi sa mga kalaban, hindi sa kakampi,” Marcos said.

(I face everything. But what is important to me is we talk about what is important to the public—not to the politicians and the parties, not to the rivals and the allies.)

“Kailangan wag nang pulitika ang pag-usapan at may elesyon naman na tayo. Made-decide yan pagdating ng eleksyon. Kaya ang mahalaga ay pag-usapan ang mga bagay na top of mind ng ating mga kababayan,” he added.

(We should not talk about politics because we already have an election. It will be decided on Election Day. What is important is we talk about the things that are on top of the minds of our countrymen.)

Marcos said the discussions should be on the plans and platforms of the candidates should they be elected as the next president of the country, adding that the events from the past should no longer be tackled.

“’Di na tayo babalik sa mga issue, na 35 yrs old na mga issue. Na-decide na yan eh. So puntahan natin itong mga bagong problema na hinaharap natin ngayon,” Marcos said.

(We should not go back to issues that are already 35 years old. They have been decided so let’s face the new issues today.)

Marcos insisted that Soho is a “biased” journalist in the same interview. He also said that Soho is “anti-Marcos” because of “the treatment we receive at their hands.”

“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,” Marcos said.

(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.)