Robredo skipping Comelec’s panel interview

Vice President Leni Robredo is radiant on stage with her fellow presidential candidates in the second installment of the Pilipinas Debates 2022: The Turning Point last April 3 at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza. (VP Leni Media Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo will not take part in the Commission on Election’s (Comelec) presidential panel interview, saying she has already laid out her track record as well as her plans and principles to the public.

She, however, invited fellow presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to a debate anytime.

Robredo on Friday said she has already engaged in a number of panel interviews which can be accessed online.

“Sa loob ng ilang araw, boboto na ang mga Pilipino. Halos tatlong buwan nang tumatakbo ang official campaign period, at naihayag ko na sa maraming pagkakataon ang track record, mga plano, at mga prinsipyo ko,” Robredo said in a statement.

(In a few days, Filipinos will be casting their votes. The official campaign period has been on for three months, and I have already discussed my track record, plans, and principles.)

“Maraming beses na akong nagbigay ng panayam sa mga panel interview at naka-post online ang lahat ng recording na ito,” she added.

(I have engaged in panel interviews and recordings of these are posted online.)

Robredo said that she has also decided not to participate in the panel interview organized by the Comelec and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to be with her volunteers who have been giving their time and resources to help her campaign.

Debate invite

According to Robredo, only one candidate has not joined in debates attended by all other presidential bets—Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.

She challenged Marcos to engage in a debate.

“Sa puntong ito, isang kandidato na lang ang hindi pa humaharap sa taumbayan sa isang debate kasama ang lahat ng ibang kandidato. Mahalaga sana ito para masuri kami ng publiko, at para marinig nila at mapagkumpara ang vision at pagkatao namin,” Robredo said.

(At this point, only one candidate has not faced the public in a debate with all the other candidates. It is important that the public can see us so they can hear and compare our visions and character.)

“Inaanyayahan ko si Ginoong Bongbong Marcos na makipagdebate, para mabigyan ang taumbayan ng pagkakataong makaharap siya at matanong tungkol sa mga kontrobersiyang pumapalibot sa kanya. We owe it to the people and to our country,” she added.

(I am inviting Mr. Marcos to a debate so that the public can be given a chance to see him and ask him about the controversies surrounding him.  We owe it to the people and to our country.)

Further, Robredo said: “Kung papayag po kayo, anytime, anywhere, darating ako (If you will say yes, then I will be there—anytime, anywhere.)

gsg