BBM-Sara tandem to skip CNN Ph debates

Former Senator Bongbong Marcos and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte are the long presidential and vice presidential aspirants who are not going to attend the CNN Philippines debates on Feb. 26 and 27, the network announced Monday.

“9 presidential candidates, 8 VP bets confirm attendance to CNN Philippines debates,” CNN reported.  “Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte — the current survey frontrunners — are the lone presidential and VP candidates skipping the debates.”

Related story: Marcos-Duterte still leading in Pulse Asia survey

This is the third time Marcos Jr. declined an invitation to attend such event. He also skipped GMA Network’s Jessica Soho Interview and a forum by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.

Related story: Marcos declines to join KBP presidential candidates forum

Netizens react

On Twitter, several netizens are urging CNN to include an empty chair where the absent candidates are supposed to be seated. 

“Dear @cnnphilippines please make sure to include an empty chair where Marcos Jr. is supposed to be at. This will highlight his refusal to attend the debates. There can be no better representation of the truth than this,” one Twitter user wrote. 

“Empty chair for absentees?” another netizen asked. 

Several netizens are also starting to express doubt on the credibility of the upcoming election after Marcos’ decision to skip major forums and interviews. 

“Feel ko lg may mangyayari tlgang magic sa election. Parang wala na lg kasi sa dalawang to ung mga debates.Walang plataporma or plano pra sa bansa.Plantsado na ba ang result? Bkit ang tatapang nila magskip? Either sa tabugo tlga silang dalawa or plantsado na nila ang resulta??” a Twitter user remarked.

Another wrote: “Many feel the same way. Kaya ang confident na walang malinaw na plataporma. Everything’s in place - surveys, appointees/Davao bloc in Comelec, F2 Logistics of Uy, China."

What are your thoughts on this?