Senator Manny Pacquiao (Contributed photo)
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday said he would attend the final leg of the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) presidential debate, if fellow candidate and former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will show up too.
The Comelec has announced that it has rescheduled the debate, which was supposedly set on April 24, to April 30.
“Kung mag-attend talaga si Ferdinand Marcos Jr., mag-attend ako,” he said.
(If Marcos participates, I will, too.)
Pacquiao initially said he would have to check first if he could attend the debate on its rescheduled date since his schedule is already packed in the homestretch of the campaign season.
He, however, is willing to cancel his prior commitments if Marcos Jr. will confirms his participation in the debate.
“Hindi pa ako sigurado kung makadalo o hindi pero gusto kong dumalo. Maadjust natin yung mga schedule natin. Kumbaga nagcommit na tayo ng mga schedule, pangit naman na macancel natin,” he said in a press briefing in Bohol.
(I am not sure if I can attend but I want to. We just need to adjust our schedule because we have committed to other activities already. It looks bad if we cancel our prior commitments.)
He pointed out that it would be “good optics” if all presidential candidates would finally be present, since Marcos Jr. has refused to attend debates or presidential interviews organized by Comelec and major media networks.
“Magandang optic kasi yun na makita ng taumbayan na kumpleto kaming mga kandidato na nagparticipate sa isang imbitasyon ng debate,” the senator said.
(It is good optics that the public would see all the candidates in the debate.)
Pacquiao clarified that he has nothing personal against Marcos Jr., saying it is the latter’s prerogative whether or not to take part in debates
“Ang akin lang, sayang naman yung pagkakataon na magiging kumpleto kami sa debate,” he said.
(For me, it is a wasted opportunity that we would be complete for the first time.)
Marcos Jr. was the only presidential candidate who did not attend the Comelec debate last March 19.
Marcos has likewise declined to attend presidential debates hosted by major media networks, including the presidential interview with veteran journalist Jessica Soho, the presidential forum hosted by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), and the debate hosted by CNN Philippines.
He, however, attended the debates hosted by SMNI, a media network run by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who has openly endorsed the Marcos-Sara Duterte tandem.