MANILA, Philippines – Former Senator and now presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. does not have the final say yet whether to attend or skip the presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“I don’t know, I’m still looking at the format,” Marcos Jr. said in an ambush interview after the general assembly of the country’s municipal mayors league in Pasay City on Tuesday.
The Comelec earlier announced that they would give the presidential and vice-presidential candidates the general topics in advance, but not the specific questions.
According to Marcos Jr. “That’s basically the same as others.”
The camp of Marcos Jr. previously sent a letter to the poll body saying, “It would be more proper and prudent if all presidential candidates will be given an opportunity to discuss before the Commission among themselves the format, which will include the issues to be discussed, the time allotment for each, the right to respond and rebut his/her arguments, who will be the moderator, among others.”
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard-bearer has been criticized for declining major presidential debates and forums such as the presidential interview of GMA Network’s Jessica Soho, the presidential forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), and the debate organized by CNN Philippines on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Marcos Jr. attended the debate arranged by media network SMNI, owned by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who endorsed the Marcos-Duterte tandem.
9 presidential candidates are expected to attend the debate on March 19, while Marcos Jr. is still unsure.