Partido Lakas ng Masa vice presidential candidate Walden Bello roasted absentee candidates, describing the act as undemocratic, and even asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to penalize these candidates.
This, after Bello was asked about recommendations he would make on to address societal issues of his choice to the elected president.
“I hesitate to answer that question because this is becoming a big joke. Sara Duterte is not with us, we’re slashing one another for her benefit. The Comelec should do something about this,” Bello said, beginning his tangent during the Comelec PilPinas Vice Presidential Debates on Sunday, March 20.
“Commissioner, Chair, maari ba, can you penalize these two people, [Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and (VP bet Davao City Mayor) Sara Duterte for not showing themselves up to the Filipino people with their programs,” Bello asked.
UniTeam tandem Marcos Jr. and Duterte have drawn heavy flak for refusing to attend electoral debates, though Marcos Jr. did attend on Sonshine Media Network International presidential forum last Feb. 15.
“So that masuri po ng FIlipino people yung kanilang record at tsaka yung programs nila (So that the Filipino people can learn their records and programs),” he pointed out.
“This is so undemocratic that they’re not here, I’m tempted to walk out right now,” he said.
For their part, the Comelec responded during the debate proper that there would be penalties for absentee candidates, referring to their forbidding of absentee candidates from using their e-Rally platform.
On Duterte’s end, her spokesperson has previously clarified that she will not attend debates, preferring instead to “campaign on the ground.”
“My god, ang hina po ‘nun (it’s so weak). We need stronger penalties for these people,” Bello said, referring to the Comelec’s penalty.
Meanwhile, the Comelec has not released any further statements on the subject.
Bello is running for vice president under PLM alongside presidential bet Leodegario “Ka Leody” De Guzman in the 2022 polls.