The Commission on Elections places 10 podiums for its “PiliPinas Debates” scheduled on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City, even if only nine presidential candidates signified their participation in the event. John Eric Mendoza/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — The absence of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday, March 19, would be more palpable.
This, as the poll body still set up 10 podiums – one for each presidential candidate in the May 2022 elections – for the debate that will be held at the Sofitel Hotel tent in Pasay City.
Only nine presidential candidates have agreed to join the event dubbed as “PiliPinas Debate”: former presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella; labor leader Leody de Guzman; Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso; former Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales; Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson; Senator Manny Pacquiao; businessman Faisal Mangondato; lawyer and doctor Jose Montemayor Jr.; and Vice President Leni Robredo.
Marcos Jr. decided to not participate, saying he would rather campaign than attend the debate and “repeat and repeat the same thing” until the debates get “personal.” But Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said they have not received any written refusal from Marcos Jr.’s camp.
READ: Bongbong Marcos shuns Comelec debates, cites ‘preferred mode of communication with people’
Since the official campaigning for national candidates in this year’s election started on February 8, Marcos Jr. has decided to skip interviews, forums, and debates most of the time.
Jimenez previously said they will not “gloss over” the absence of any candidate in the debate.
“It’s not going to be glossed over… there’s gonna be a podium right there, with their name on it and no face above it,” the Comelec official said during an online press briefing on February 3.
In an ambush interview at Sofitel Hotel on Friday, Jimenez assured Marcos Jr. that “all candidates will be treated fairly and partially” during the debate and that the questions “will be focused on issues rather than personalities.”
“So I hope he watches so he can see exactly how it’s gonna be,” he said.
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