- The camp of Presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte belied the online post that says he is skipping the second presidential debate
- His spokesperson says it is just a “black propaganda”
- The online post says that Duterte is not attending the debate because it will be held in UP Cebu
- Last week, the presidential candidate had a rough time with students at UP Los Baños
Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte’s team denied the rumors circulating online that the presidential candidate would be skipping the second presidential debates scheduled on Sunday, March 20.
Earlier, a post went around on social media that claims Duterte will not be joining Sunday’s event because it will be held in the University of the Philippines (UP) in Cebu. The Davao City mayos has recently had a hard time when he attended a forum in UP Los Baños.
Photo Credit: Davao Today
“There is no truth to stories that Duterte will back out of the debate because it will be held in UP Cebu,” spokesman Peter Laviña was quoted as saying in an Inquirer story.
According to Laviña, the “bogus” online poster came from Cebu and “was made to appear to be in connection with the recent visit of Duterte at the University of the Philippines in Los Baños, Laguna.”
“This is a squid tactic to confuse our supporters and paint our candidate as a coward, liar and disengaging – things that he is not,” he added.
Duterte has previously said that he’d rather sleep than hear about his contenders’ bragging.
“I might (attend). But if I would just be hearing (those claims), I’d rather sleep. What is there to debate about Makati and daang matuwid?” he said on Wednesday.
But his executive assistant, in a PhilStar story, confirmed that he is attending the debate hosted by TV5, Philippine Star and BusinessWorld.
“He will attend. He is always ready to answer all the questions with his stored knowledge with or without preparations,” Go said in the story.
The five presidential candidates will not be complete on Sunday, however. Later on Thursday, Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago said she will be unable to attend the debate because she will participate in an international medical trial, needed to access a million worth of medication.
Post a Comment