MANILA – Hindi lalahok si Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. sa presidential debate na inorganisa ng Commission on Elections (Comelec).

Sa isang pahayag nitong Lunes, kinumpirma ng abogadong si Vic Rodriguez, chief of staff at tagapagsalita ni Marcos, ang hindi paglahok ng kampo sa presidential debate ngayong Sabado.

“Presidential frontrunner Bongbong Marcos’ words are his bond, thus we shall honor our commitment to our supporters to be with them on the field on this day,” wika ni Rodriguez.

Sinabi ni Rodriguez na mananatili silang on-ground campaigning.

“We shall continue with our preferred mode of direct communication with the people and engage them in a more personal face-to-face interaction that discusses real issues that affect them today, tomorrow and in the days to come as this election is all about our collective future,” wika niya.

Sa panayam ng DWIZ sa radyo noong Sabado, pinayuhan ni Senador Imee Marcos ang kanyang kapatid na lumahok sa debate sa pampanguluhan upang sagutin ang “lahat” ng mga batikos.

“Answer all their criticisms. After all, we have faced all our cases. We answer all the criticisms. He can easily do that,” aniya.

Noong Linggo, sinabi ng Comelec na anim na kandidato sa pagkapangulo ang nagsumite na ng nakasulat na kumpirmasyon na sila ay sasali sa PiliPinas Debate, kabilang sina dating presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella, Labor leader Leody de Guzman, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, Senator Manny Pacquiao at dating Defense Secretary Norberto Gonzales.

Samantala, sinabi ni Vice President Leni Robredo, businessman Faisal Mangondato at lawyer/doctor Jose Montemayor na lalahok sila sa debate.