Marcos camp, Pacquiao trade barbs over debates
Atty. Victor Rodriguez, chief of staff and spokesperson of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (SCREENGRAB FROM PTV)
MANILA, Philippines — The camp of presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has hit back at Sen. Manny Pacquiao for saying that those who shun election debates are not ready to lead the Philippines.
In a statement on Sunday night, lawyer Victor Rodriguez, spokesperson for Marcos, called Pacquiao’s “sudden bravery” as “misplaced.”
“While he should just be minding his own campaign, I thank him nonetheless for expressing interest on how we conduct ours,” he added.
“When one is applying for a job, he or she is expected to submit himself to an intensive interview and not to debate or be argumentative with the putative employer,” he said.
Pacquiao, for his part, said he only wanted to ensure that Filipinos would not “fall prey to deception” when he warned the public against candidates who snub [in-person] debates and interviews.
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