The camp of vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte denied that she is joining the upcoming debate organized by the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on March 20.
This is despite the COMELEC's initial announcement that the Davao mayor will be joining them.
According to Duterte's camp, they did not receive a formal invitation from COMELEC to participate in the said debate.
"Vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte and her team have not received any formal invitation from the COMELEC to join the debate despite their public announcement of her confirmation to attend the event," Duterte's spokesperson, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, said in a statement.
"Be that as it may, whether or not there is an invitation, Sara Duterte will not be attending the debate," she added.
COMELEC spokesperson James Jimenez previously announced the vice presidential debate is set on March 20, which will see the attendance of most of the candidates except former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza due to an "undergoing surgery."
Duterte's announcement to skip the debate mirrors the past moves of her running-mate, presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., of skipping several presidential interviews organized by the media.
For the COMELEC-led presidential debate, the camp of Marcos said his participation will depend if his "hectic" campaign schedule permits it.
