Vice presidential bet Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio offered “no comment” on the importance of electoral debates, as well as the tirades made by candidate Walden Bello against her and presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr.
During a press conference in Davao City on Monday afternoon, Feb. 28, reporters asked Duterte-Carpio for a reaction to jabs made by Bello against her and her May 2022 poll partner, Marcos, Jr.
“And I’m really terribly sorry that Mayor Duterte is not here to face the people. She is a coward. Just like Bongbong Marcos,” said Bello during the CNN Vice Presidential Debate on Saturday, Feb. 26.
The so-called “Eagle of Mindanao” had no comment to these remarks.
“My team and I are currently discussing that item so I will not comment on that item as of yet,” Duterte-Carpio said.
Reporters then asked for her opinion on the importance of electoral debates and why she has not attended any.
“May reason ako (I have a reason) but I do not want to say it to the public... It is an ongoing discussion with the team. We will come up with a statement... It is something personal and I do not want to say it publicly. As of the moment, there is no comment,” Duterte-Carpio replied.
Duterte-Carpio did not attend the recent CNN Vice Presidential Debate, while Marcos, Jr. did not attend the CNN Presidential Debate on Sunday, Feb. 27.
As a result, the UniTeam tandem drew flak for skipping the debates, although Marcos, Jr. did participate in the Sonshine Media Network International Presidential Forum last Tuesday, Feb. 15.