Presidential candidate and labor leader Leodegario “Ka Leody” De Guzman has confirmed his attendance to Sonshine Media Network International's (SMNI) presidential debate, which will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 15.
De Guzman’s confirmation means that he will get to face frotnrunning presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in a one-on-one affair.

“Tutuloy ako sa SMNI debates kahit tila dumadayo ako sa home court ni Marcos Jr. (I will attend the SMNI debates even if I’ll virtually be in Marcos Jr.’s home court),” De Guzman said in a statement on Monday, Feb. 14.
“Bilang kandidato, obligasyon kong ilahad ang aking plataporma sa lahat ng botante kasama ang mga nanlalait sa pagtakbo ng isang labor leader sa pagkapangulo. Kailangan nilang marinig ang lahat ng panig para sa kanilang mas maayos na pagpapasya sa Mayo (As a candidate, I am obligated to present my platform to all voters, even to those who don’t want a labor leader to run for president. The voters need to hear all sides to vote wisely this May),” he said.
Marcos will be the only other presidential candidate present at the SMNI debate as Vice President Leni Robredo, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and Senators Manny Pacquiao, and Panfilo Lacson have all declined attendance.
The SMNI, chaired by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, serves as the broadcasting arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ church, also led and founded by Quiboloy.
Quiboloy, who is wanted by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for alleged “conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion, and sex trafficking of children; sex trafficking by force, fraud, and coercion; conspiracy; bulk cash smuggling,” had earlier endorsed Marcos’s presidential bid.
De Guzman and Marcos have both donned the color red for their respective presidential campaigns in the upcoming May 2022 elections.