Pacquiao warns public vs candidates not attending debates (Sabong News)
Author
Joseph Pedrajas
Date
MARCH 17 2022
Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao has warned the public against political candidates who are skipping public debates as he said such type of candidate “act with impunity without regard for any accountability.”
Pacquiao on Thursday told voters not to “expect any accountability and demand good governance from candidates who refuse to attend public debates” because “these candidates can do whatever they please.”
The aspiring president believed it was “because they were elected into office without any clear commitment to serve the country’s best interest and uphold the welfare of all Filipinos.”
“Nakakatakot yang mga ganyang kandidato sa ating republika. Pag na-elect na sila, kahit magnakaw pa sila ng magnakaw wala silang pananagutan dahil ibinoto sila ng tao kahit alam nilang mga magnanakaw sila. Paano sila sisingilin ng taumbayan eh sila mismo ang naglagay sa kanila sa pwesto? (These candidates are dangerous to the republic. If they get elected, they will have no qualms to plunder our country because they got elected even with the clear knowledge that they are thieves. How can the people demand accountability when they were the ones who got them elected?)” he said in a statement.
Pacquiao said those who are running for public office, especially those seeking the presidency, should stop inventing excuses to avoid face-to-face debates, especially those organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec)—an apparent reference to frontrunning presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., who confirmed non-participation in the upcoming debate.
The lawmaker said that the electorate should be given the right to know not only the platform of all those aspiring for public office, but also get a glimpse of their character as leaders and as implementors of government policies.
Pacquiao recently said he will attend all face-to-face debates and other fora because these events are meant to provide the people an informed choice about their candidates, the quality of their leadership, and their style of governance.
