Heated confrontations, heckling mark first part of VP debate
The vice presidential race seems just as heated as the campaign for the highest leader of the land.
The first few rounds erupted in confrontations between Senator Alan Peter Cayetano and Senator Bongbong Marcos, as well as between Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and Senator Gringo Honasan.
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Cayetano, while being asked about corruption, mentioned the ill-gotten wealth of the Marcos family. He said that if Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, becomes vice president, the stolen money from the government might reach $100 million.
Marcos argued that his colleague’s claims did not have any basis.
Article continues after this advertisementMeanwhile, Trillanes scored Honasan for the accusations of corruption against his running mate, Vice President Jejomar Binay.
Article continues after this advertisementThe camera then showed Binay booing Trillanes, who is one of his biggest critics, as he assailed Honasan.
READ: Binay boos Trillanes over corruption allegations in VP debate
“Ako po ay imbestigador. Nakita ko po yung mga dokumento. At sa aking paniniwala si VP Binay po ay nangurakot and nobody can change that,”
(I’m an investigator. I have seen the documents. And I believe that Vice President Binay is corrupt and nobody can change that.)
Throughout the first half of the debate, Cayetano repeatedly hit Marcos while Trillanes kept on mentioning Binay.
READ: Cayetano presses Marcos on corruption
Early into the program, protesters heckled Marcos, chanting “Never again, never again to martial law.”
Host Pinky Webb asked the audience members to be escorted out of the venue.
READ: Bongbong Marcos heckled at opening of VP debate
Marcos has repeatedly refused to apologize for what his father did during his term as president and especially during martial law. The late president had been accused of being corrupt and allowing abuses against scores of dissenters. With reports from Yuji Gonzales, Julliane Love de Jesus, Aries Joseph Hegina/CDG
