The camp of leading presidential aspirant Bongbong Marcos Jr. has rejected Vice President Leni Robredo’s challenge to a one-on-one debate; saying they prefer to directly reach out to the people in sending their message of ‘pagkakaisa’ or unity.
Earlier, Robredo dared survey frontrunner Marcos to a debate even as she announced not joining the presidential panel interview organized by the Comelec and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) scheduled next week.
In a statement, Marcos’ spokesperson Atty. Vic Rodriguez said they understand Robredo’s frustration to face Marcos in a debate despite their differences in their preferred means in communicating with the people.
However, the alleged negativity, deception and smear campaign tactics by Robredo supporters supposedly contradicts UniTeam’s ‘positive campaigning’.
“Positibong pangangampanya at walang paninira ang gabay ng UniTeam ni Bongbong Marcos. At derecho sa taumbayan ang mga mensahe nito at ang panawagan ng pagkakisa. Pawang mga negatibo, panlilinlang at paninira naman ang sa kampo ng dilawan,” Rodriguez said in a statement.
Rodriguez also believes it is for the benefit of the people to see peaceful campaigning rather than rival candidates ganging up on each other.
“Sa debate na hamon kay presidential frontrunner Bongbong Marcos ay hindi ito kailanman mangyayari sa ilang kadahilanan. At batid ni Ginang Robredo ang mga kadahilanang ‘yan,” the lawyer added.
Earlier on Friday, April 29, Robredo announced she has decided not to accept the invitiation for the Comelec panel interview so she could spend time with volunteers who have been very generous with their time and resources to support her campaign.
However, the Vice President, who trails Marcos in surveys, said she is willing to face her rival in a one-on-one interview, ‘anytime, anywhere’.
“Inaanyayahan ko si Ginoong Bongbong Marcos na makipagdebate, para mabigyan ang taumbayan ng pagkakataong makaharap siya at matanong tungkol sa mga kontrobersiyang pumapalibot sa kanya,” Robredo said.
With barely a week before the May 9 polls, the candidates are now in their final stretch of the campaign period and hope to convince more voters into their bandwagon.