Photo Courtesy of Ka Leody De Guzman Facebook Page
MANILA, Philippines — Labor leader Leody de Guzman said on Wednesday that he felt a clear home court advantage for former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during a presidential debate.
De Guzman and Marcos both attended on Tuesday the presidential debate organized by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), the network run by suspected sex trafficker and religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
Quiboloy earlier endorsed the tandem of Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio.
“Klaro ‘yun dahil syempre ‘yung nag-sponsor. Pangalawa, ‘yung prosyento ng mga audience ay full force tapos ‘yung mga pagka commercial ang ipapakita ‘yung grupo ni Bongbong Marcos, at saka ‘yung slate niya, ‘yung kanyang mga partylist na sinusuportahan,” De Guzman answered on ABS-CBN News Channel’s After the Fact when asked if he felt the home court advantage for Marcos.
(That is clear because of the sponsor. Second, the percentage of the audience is full force, and the commercials that were aired shows the group of Bongbong Marcos, his slate, and the partylists that he supports.)
“Kaya talagang ramdam mo na ‘yung lugar at mga audience na nandoon ay court talaga nila Bongbong Marcos,” he continued.
(So, you would really feel from the venue and audience there, it is the court of Bongbong Marcos.)
De Guzman shared that the crowd seemingly welcomes the statements thrown by Marcos while he received boos from the audience.
“Grabe talaga ‘yung pagtatanggol ng audience. ‘Pag binabanatan mo, grabe ‘yung reaksyon at kapag nagsasalita si Bongbong, grabe ang pagsalubong ay natural ‘yun,” he said.
(The audience’s defense is overwhelming. Their reactions are overwhelming when you criticize them. But when Bongbong speaks, they welcome it, and that is natural.)
“Actually, sa likod nga, ‘yung mga kasamahan ko ay may ganu’ng naramdamang pressure na pagka ako magsasalita, bino-boo. Pero ‘pag sila ang nang-boo ay may reaksyon na parang may pressure sa ginagawa sa kanila,” added De Guzman.
(Actually, at the back, my comrades felt a pressure that when I talk, the people are booing me. But, when my comrades say boo, there is a reaction that seems pressuring them.)
Among the audience were members of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) which is controversial for their red-tagging of innocent civilians.
During the debate, the argument on armed struggle heated up between Marcos and De Guzman.
De Guzman said that an uprising rooted in injustices in the country should be recognized and addressed. He will abolish the NTF-Elcac, should he win the presidential race.
Marcos, however, opposed the ideology that called for an armed struggle and will push to continue the programs of the NTF-Elcac.
Aside from De Guzman and Marcos, former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales and former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella likewise attended the SMNI presidential debate.
Other presidential candidates — Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, and Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno — skipped the event due to various reasons.