Push Admin

Marcos to shun debates, forums that pit candidates against each other: spokesperson

Article (news)

Mico Abarro, ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Presidential aspirant Ferdinand &quot;Bongbong&quot; Marcos Jr. will not join any presidential debate or forum if the aim of the events is to pit candidates against one another, his spokesman said Wednesday.Speaking to ANC&#x27;s Headstart, spokesperson Vic Rodriguez said Filipinos are tired of seeing candidates fight each other, and there were bigger issues facing the country like joblessness. &quot;Pagod na ang tao sa awayan. Ngayon, kung tayo maglalagay lang ng forum para mag-enjoy at makita nag-aaway sila 1,2,3,4,5 candidates, hindi po kami sasali riyan,&quot; Rodriguez said. The spokesman added that though presidential candidates like Marcos were &quot;applying&quot; for the country&#x27;s highest office, it did not mean that he should be fighting those who would become his bosses. &quot;Let your bosses or the management choose among the best, and let them decide. Hindi yung makikpag-talo tayo sa management or sa kapwa nating aplikante,&quot; Rodriguez said. The statement came after Marcos did not appear at the Presidential Candidates&#x27; Forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) due to a conflict in schedule. But Marcos has appeared in other interviews such as the &quot;Bakit Ikaw? The DZRH Presidential Job Interview&quot;, a one-on-one interview with celebrity talk-show host Boy Abunda, and another interview with veteran broadcaster Korina Sanchez. At least one political analyst has said that Marcos appeared to be following a strategy of &quot;less talk, less mistakes&quot;, which was also similar to the strategy of former president Joseph &quot;Erap&quot; Estrada. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/05/22/analyst-laments-marcos-absent-strategy-in-presidential-interviews">&#x27;Using Erap&#x27;s playbook&#x27;: Analyst laments Marcos&#x27; &#x27;absent strategy&#x27; in presidential interviews</a></li></ul>Rodriguez meanwhile denied that Marcos was avoiding certain forums and interviews. &quot;Lahat yan ay nagpapasuri siya subalit titignan namin kung ang direksyon lamang ay pagaway-awayin ang kandidato. I tell you now in your program hindi kami sasali dahil nirerespeto namin ang sentimiyento ng sambayanang Filipino,&quot; he said. Earlier this week, a coalition of press freedom advocates called on all candidates in the 2022 elections to appear at forums and debates organized by media, arguing that the events helped &quot;give a broader audience access to aspirants&#x27; plans and platforms as well as potential blindspots and problem areas that bets would do well to address.&quot;<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/09/22/press-advocates-debates-not-meant-to-ruin-candidates">Press freedom advocates to candidates: Join #Halalan2022 debates, forums</a></li></ul><div> </div>

Bongbong Marcos will not join any presidential debate or forum if the aim of the events is to pit candidates against one another,

Marcos to shun debates, forums that pit candidates against each other: spokesperson

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Marcos to shun debates, forums that pit candidates against each other: spokesperson

Mico Abarro,

ABS-CBN News

Published Feb 09, 2022 10:16 AM PHT

Read More:

Halalan 2022

2022 Elections

Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.

Vic Rodriguez

Debates

Forums

DZRH

KBP Presidential Candidates' Forum

Boy Abunda

Korina Sanchez

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.