Vice presidential candidates Kiko Pangilinan, Walden Bello and Rizalito David have called out fellow candidate Sara Duterte for ignoring the first COMELEC vice presidential debate held last Sunday.
Pangilinan compared candidates not showing in debates to suitors who do not wish to present themselves to their lover’s parents.
“Alam mo kaming mga kandidato eh nanliligaw ng botante. ‘Pag ikaw ay lumiligaw, dapat humaharap,” Pangilinan said.
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“May tatlo akong anak na babae. Dapat respetuhin ang anak ko, respetuhin ang magulang. ‘Pag hindi humaharap, nirerespeto ba kami? ‘Pag hindi humaharap, hindi nirerespeto ang botante,” he added.
Bello repeated his challenge to the presidential daughter and slammed her for not showing up.
“I really like to hear from Sara Duterte no? I mean I don’t know why she doesn’t appear in this debate, face the Filipino people. I think she should be here,” Bello said.
Bello also asked the COMELEC to do something on the non-attendance of survey frontrunners.
“We’re slashing one another for her benefit. I mean the Commission on Elections should do something about this. Commissioner, chair, maaari ba, can you penalize these two people?” Bello said.
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“I’m really so pissed off that these two jokers are not here, duwag sila [they are cowards]… They have to show up so the Filipino can judge. Otherwise, this is a f—ing big joke,” he added.
David also echoed the candidates’ stand on Sara’s non-attendance.
“Nalulungkot po ako dahil yung nangunguna sa survey hindi po natin marinig ang opinion sa bagay na ito. Sana nandito si Inday Sara para masabi niya yung nais niyang sabihin hinggil dito sa bagay na. Inday Sara dumalo ka naman, gusto namin makamayan,” he added.
Sara spent her day in a campaign rally in Malabon.
