Vice presidential candidate and Senator Francis Pangilinan on Friday invited election rival Davao Mayor Sara Duterte on a debate.
It follows the challenge issued by his running-mate, Vice President Leni Robredo, to her own election rival and Duterte's running-mate former Senator Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, who turned down the invitation.
"At susugan ko rin ang hamon ni VP Leni kay Ginoong Bongbong Marcos at sa aking katunggali, kay Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte na dumalo dahil bukod tangi sila sa lahat ng mga kandidato na hindi kailanman nagpakita sa mga debate," said Pangilinan.
(And I will add to the challenge of VP Leni to Mr. Bongbong Marcos and to my rival, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, to participate because they are only ones out of all candidates who have not shown up to the debates.)
The Marcos-Duterte tandem is known for skipping televised debates, including ones organized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
According to Pangilinan, it is only appropriate for election candidates to face the people and air their plans for the Philippines.
"Madalas ang mga hindi nagpapakita ay may mga itinatago. Mayroon kayang itinatago ang kampo ng Marcos-Duterte? Patunayan niyong wala," said the senator.
(Those who do not show up usually have something to hide. Is the Marcos-Duterte camp hiding something? Prove to us that there’s nothing.)
Pangilinan issued the remarks after saying that like his running-mate, he will also be skipping the panel interview organized by the COMELEC and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
"Hindi ako makakadalo sa COMELEC-KBP Pilipinas Forum 2022 dahil konting tulog na lang, eleksyon na at punong-puno na ang schedule natin sa direktang pagharap at pagpapasalamat sa mga volunteer, at sa pagkukumbinsi pa sa mga 'Andy' o undecided - sa lugar mismo nila."
(I cannot join the COMELEC-KBP Pilipinas Forum 2022 because with only a few nights left, it will be the elections and our schedule is filled with direct contact and gratitude to our volunteers, and with convincing the “Andy” or undecided in their own places.)
The COMELEC has organized a panel interview in place of the canceled final leg of debates of the PiliPinas Forum 2022.
Six presidentiables and four vice presidential candidates have so far confirmed their attenance to the panel interviews, according to COMELEC.
