Robredo on Marcos Jr. skipping GMA interview: His choice, but bets must be ready to face tough questions

Vice President Leni Robredo on Monday said it is former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s choice to skip the presidential interview but noted that candidates should be prepared to face difficult questions.

Over the weekend, Marcos' camp revealed that it refused to join the "The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews" because it claimed that the veteran journalist is biased against the Marcoses.

For her part, Robredo said she is not in the position to give a message to her political rival's choices.

"Choice niya naman 'yun so hindi naman natin– wala naman tayong– wala tayong papel para pakialaman 'yung choices hindi lang niya pero ng iba pang mga kandidato," she said in an ambush interview at Dipolog City, Zamboanga Del Norte.

(It's his choice. We should not interfere in his choice, and that of other candidates.)

But she said a political candidate as a public servant must not back out from challenges even if it meant answering tough questions.

"Pero, para kasi sa akin, mahalaga na kung kami ay naghahangad ng suporta ng taumbayan, kailangan handa kaming harapin kahit 'yung mahihirap na katanungan kasi dine-deserve ng taumbayan malaman kung ano 'yung katotohanan sa mga bagay na ibinabato sa amin o ano 'yung mga bagay na naririnig tungkol sa amin, pinakamabisang paraan na harapin naman 'yun," Robredo said.

(But, for me, it is important that if we seek the support of the people, we must be ready to face even the difficult questions because the people deserve to know what the truth about the things being thrown at us. It's best we face them.)

"So, dapat hindi kami natatakot sa– hindi kami natatakot sa hindi lang pagtatanong pero pagtutuligsa kasi kaming mga public servants ang responsibility namin sa bansa ay ayusin 'yung aming inilalahad to the best of our ability. Pag kandidato ka kasi, binibigay mo 'yung sarili mo na maging subject ka for scrutiny," she added.

(So, we should not be afraid of tough questions as well as criticisms because as public servants we have a responsibility in the country to explain our platforms  to the best of our ability. When you are a candidate, you allow yourself to be the subject of scrutiny.)

The Marcos camp, through lawyer Vic Rodriguez, said it believed that Soho's questions will only focus on the negative aspects about Marcos.

In response, GMA Network said Soho embodies the media firm's ethos: "Walang Kinikilingan, Walang Pinoprotektahan, Serbisyong Totoo Lamang."

It also took note that "Soho boldly asks the presidential aspirants the questions that need to be asked – their intentions behind running for the position, the controversies thrown at them, their stand on pressing issues and their concrete plans should they be elected."

"The questions are tough because the job of the presidency is tough," GMA Network added.

Only presidential candidates Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and Vice President Leni Robredo were present in the presidential interview.

Labor leader Leody de Guzman, who was also a presidential aspirant but was not invited, watched the presidential interviews and answered questions through a Facebook live. —LDF, GMA News