Ka Leody on Marcos Jr. not joining certain debates: Palusot

Presidential candidate labor leader Leody de Guzman on Wednesday took a swipe at fellow aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. after the latter's camp said the former senator will not join forums that will have candidates debate each other.

De Guzman made the remark during a Pandesal Forum, stressing that it is vital for the public to know every Eleksyon 2022 aspirants’ solutions to the country’s problems.

“Palusot. Obvious na ‘yun sa lahat ng eleksyon na binibigyan ng pagkakataon ang ating mga kandidato na makausap ang buong mamamayan using pinakamalawak na network para makilatis ng ating mga mamamayan ‘yung plataporma, hindi lang ‘yung gandang lalaki, hindi lang ‘yung personal na karakter, pero ano ‘yung plano,” he said.

(That’s just an excuse. Obviously, in all elections, candidates are given the opportunity to talk to the entire people using the widest networks so that they could examine the platforms, not just their pretty faces or their personal character, but their plans.)

Lawyer Vic Rodriguez, Marcos' spokesperson said on Wednesday that they would first study the format of a particular show to determine if Marcos would participate in it or not.

He then stressed that they are not avoiding these platforms but only want to engage in discussions that would talk about solutions to the country's problems.

De Guzman however said it is not the first time for networks or organizations to host such activities as all the past elections had debates and forums wherein candidates could lay their platforms and share their stand on issues.

“Kaya ‘wag nang magpalusot. Umamin na lamang na guilty. May feeling guilty si Bongbong kaya ayaw niyang lumahok. ‘Wag na siyang magdrama pa,” he added.

(Stop making excuses. Just admit that you are guilty. Bongbong is feeling guilty, that's why he doesn't want to participate in debates. Stop being dramatic.)

De Guzman’s running mate, former party-list lawmaker Walden Bello, backed him saying that debates, particularly among presidential aspirants, would show who among them have true platforms and characters and who are thus qualified to be the next leader of the country.

“Kapag hindi mo kayang ipaliwanag sa isang debate ‘yung iyong platform o iyong karakter, eh talagang ‘di mo deserve to be president,” he said.

(If you can’t explain your platform or character in debates, then you don’t really deserve to be a president.)

Bello then said the public should no longer expect Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte to participate in any future debates, including that of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Alam naman natin na kapag sinama mo si Sara at Marcos sa isang debate, naku, mapapakita talaga sa sambayanan na wala talagang platform ito, na hindi talaga nila madepensahan ‘yung mga record nila, at papogi-pogi na lang ang ginagawa nila in order to ‘preserve their lead,’” he added.

(We know that when you include Sara and Marcos in a debate, it will really show that they don’t have a platform, that they can't really defend their records, and that they just do it in order to 'preserve their lead.')

GMA News Online reached out to Rodriguez for his comment on De Guzman and Bello's statements but he has yet to reply. Duterte's spokesperson, Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, meanwhile, said they have "no comment."

Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez earlier said the law does not require candidates' participation in public debates, and that the poll body cannot oblige the candidates to show up.

However, Jimenez also said the decision of certain aspirants to skip various pre-election forums may be a "red flag" for voters.

Bello emphasized that both he and De Guzman are just waiting for opportunities to join such activities to explain their platforms for the country ahead of May 9 polls.

If given the chance, the tandem said that they will ask other aspirants about their stance on issues such as lifting the ban on open-pit mining, Rice Tariffication Law, contractualization, and the automatic appropriation for debt.

Marcos had skipped the presidential interview with veteran GMA Network journalist Jessica Soho and the presidential forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).

The son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., Marcos had said that any media that is "anti-Marcos" is "biased." Despite his absences in the interviews, he insisted he is not a coward.

Proclamation rally permit snag

Meanwhile, De Guzman acknowledged that his camp had lapses on the filing of permit prior to holding his proclamation rally in Quezon City on Tuesday.

“Ang problem do’n, dahil sa dami ng requirement na hinihingi ng Comelec, sa kwento ng Partido Lakas ng Masa (PLM) na nag-ayos. Nag-require ng permit din sa local government at ‘yung nai-file sa local government ay ‘yung nakabara doon sa pagpapapayag ng permit naman sa Comelec kasi kailangan i-attach daw ‘yun,” he explained.

(The problem there is the many requirements of the Comelec, per the story of PLM that was in charge of it. They also required a permit from the local government. The one we filed with the local government was the one that blocked the approval of the permit from the Comelec because it had to be attached.)

Comelec Director Elaiza Sabile-David on Tuesday said that there is no record of a campaign application permit filed by de-Guzman’s camp for his proclamation rally in Bantayog ng mga Bayani.

However, de Guzman’s party pushed through with the proclamation rally despite lacking permit for the said gathering.

Asked if that would be an election offense, David earlier said “Definitely, it is an election offense because the requirement is they need to seek a permit first before conducting a campaign. It is an election offense.”

For his part, De Guzman said that they are already in the process of resolving the said issue.

Despite the snag, De Guzman pointed out that his proclamation rally had a “good outcome” and stressed that they observed the health protocols set by Comelec due to COVID-19.

READ: The do's and don'ts during campaign season amid the pandemic

De Guzman said his camp is currently making arrangements for permits to visit several provinces in the country including those in Central Visayas, Bicol Region, and Mindanao. They said they are even willing to go to the bailiwicks of their opposing candidates.

“Pupunta lang tayo sa mga areas na ‘yan kasi walang solid Mindanao, walang solid Bicol, walang solid North at ipapakita namin ‘yan dito sa darating na halalan,” Bello said.

(We will go to those areas because there is no solid Mindanao, no solid Bicol, no solid North and we will show that in the upcoming elections.)

The campaign period for Eleksyon 2022 candidates running for national positions has officially started Tuesday, February 8, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.—AOL/LDF, GMA News