FILE Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. Illustration by Ed Lustan
MANILA, Philippines — “It should be a presidential interview rather than a debate,” the camp of presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had this to say Wednesday as critics questioned the latter’s recent absence in a presidential forum.
Asked if Marcos will be present in future debates, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, the presidential candidate’s spokesperson, said they will first check whether a certain event is an interview or a debate.
“To my mind, sinasabi niyo sila ay mga applicant for the highest position in the land, president. Hindi ba kapag nag-aapply ka diyan sa inyong istasyon, hindi ka naman para makapag-debate sa management kundi magpapa-interview ka,” Rodriguez said in an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.
(To my mind, people are saying that they are applicants for the highest position in the land, president. When you apply for your station, it’s not for you to debate with the management, you’re there to be interviewed.)
“It should be a presidential interview rather than a debate. Hindi ka naman makikipagtalo sa magiging mga amo mo. Magpapainterview ka, and let your bosses or management choose among the best, and let them decide. Hindi yung makikipagtalo ka sa management or sa kapwa natin aplikante,” he added.
(You are not going to argue with your future bosses. You allow yourself to be interviewed and let your bosses or management choose among the best, and let them decide. You shouldn’t argue with the management or your fellow applicants.)
Marcos earlier declined to be interviewed by GMA News broadcast journalist Jessica Soho last month. His camp said this is because Soho is biased against the Marcos family, a claim that GMA News strongly denied.
Marcos was also not able to participate in the presidential forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
In both forums, presidential candidates Panfilo Lacson, Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao, and Leni Robredo were present. Leody De Guzman also participated in the KBP forum.
Marcos’ absence led to “#MarcosDuwag” trending online, a namesake that the Marcos himself has denied.
His team stressed that Marcos attended the forum organized by DZRH as well as the separate one-on-one interviews with Boy Abunda and Korina Sanchez.
“Pagod na ang sambayanang Pilipino sa bangayan. Pagod na ang tao sa awayan. Ngayon kung tayo ay maglalagay lang ng forum para mag-enjoy at makitang nag-aaway si 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 candidates, hindi kami sasali diyan,” Rodriguez said.
(Filipinos are tired of all the bickering. If you are going to set up a forum just to enjoy seeing candidates 1,2,3,4,5 fighting, then we will not join.)
“Titignan namin, kung ang direksyon lamang ay pag-away-awayin ang kandidato, I tell you now, hindi kami sasali dahil nirerespeto namin ang sentimiyento ng sambayanang Pilipino,” he added.
(If the direction is to just have the candidates fight, then I tell you now, we will not join because we respect the sentiment of Filipinos.)