Pacquiao wants face-to-face debates with presidential bets, but all must be present

MANILA, Philippines — If he could choose, aspiring president Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he wants face-to-face debates with other presidential bets, but all candidates must be present.

Pacquiao said there would be a moderator who would field questions, but aspirants will also throw each other questions.

“Gusto ko face-to-face tapos may audience,” he said when asked in a media interview of the format he wants for debates with other presidential aspirants.

(I want it to be face-to-face with an audience.)

He added that all presidential candidates must be present during the debate since they are vying for the highest government post in the country.

“Nararapat lamang [na present lahat] dahil hindi naman ito barangay captain na tinatakbo natin. Hindi konsehal ang tinatakbuhan natin kundi bilang Pangulo ng buong bansa,” he said.

(All candidates must be present because we are not running for a barangay post nor a city councilor post. We are running for the presidency.)

“Kailangan nararapat lang na ipakita mo ‘yung sincerity mo na you’re willing to serve, ready to serve for the country,” he added.

(So it is just right that you show your sincerity that you are willing to serve and ready to serve for the country.)

Those who snubbed or who would snub interviews or debates, he said, could be afraid or hiding something that they don’t want to be revealed.

“Pwedeng duwag, pwedeng may tinatago, pwedeng ayaw mahalungkat yung tinatago,” he said.

(They may be cowards, or they may be hiding something that they don’t want revealed.)

Pacquiao said he was thankful for the presidential interview with veteran journalist Jessica Soho, which he said was a good experience.

However, survey frontrunner presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. did not attend the interview, saying Soho was “biased” as she is “anti-Marcos.”

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

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