Presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao has challenged election rival Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on a one-on-one debate so the latter can air his platforms for Filipinos.
According to the boxer-turned-senator, Marcos could be skipping the debates because of too many participants.
"Sa akin, kung gusto niya, baka nahihiya siya kapag maraming naga-attend, okay sakin mag-debate kaming dalawa lang," he said in a press briefing.
(For me, if he wants, maybe he’s just shy when there are too many participants, it is okay with me to have a debate between the two of us.)
The challenge came after Marcos previously criticized his rivals' platforms as not being well thought-out, which prompted the former senator to run for the upcoming May elections.
Pacquiao said that having a one-on-one debate would help Filipinos compare their platforms.
"Tignan natin kung anong plataporma niya, anong plataporma ko. Baka may mabuti nga siyang plataporma, mahigit doon sa pagbibigay ng trabaho, pagbibigay ng tahanang libre sa mga pamilya, pagbibigay ng hanapbuhay, pagpapalakas ng ating ekonomiya," he said.
(Let us see what his platforms are and what my platforms are. Maybe he has a good platforms, even more than providing jobs, providing free homes to families, providing livelihoods, and strengthening the economy.)
By letting out platforms, it would also make Marcos accountable to Filipinos should he win the elections, according to Pacquiao.
"Mabuti na 'yung recorded 'yung plataporma para pagdating ng panahon mahahanapan natin siya," he said.
(It is better to have recorded platforms so when the time comes we can ask it from him.)
"Baka sabihin niya sa'tin, 'Ibinoto niyo ako, wala naman akong sinabing plataporma. Binoto niyo ako kasalanan niyo 'yan.' Pwede niyang sabihin 'yan sa pagdating ng panahon," he added.
(Maybe he would tell us that: ‘You voted for me even without telling you my platforms. You voted for me, that’s your fault.’ He could say that when the time comes.)
Pacquiao's offer comes after Marcos previously skipped debates, with the latest being Saturday's presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections.
