Walden Bello says skipping debates an 'undemocratic gesture' by Bongbong, Sara

Vice presidential candidate Prof. Walden Bello on Monday described as an “undemocratic gesture” Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte's decision to skip debates related to the 2022 elections.

In an ANC interview, Bello stressed that it is the responsibility of all candidates to present themselves to the public and a debate could be a tool to bridge their gap to the people.

However, Marcos and Duterte refusing to do so is "objectionable" as they may be "hiding a lot," he said.

"Somebody like Bongbong Marcos and Sara Duterte, who don't engage in this, are hiding something. You know, this is definitely an undemocratic gesture," Bello said.

"They feel that by accounting on voters' ignorance, about their records or non-records in the case of Mayor Sara Duterte, they're counting on this ignorance to propel them to power," he added.

'Nonsense'

In a statement, Marcos' spokesperson, Atty. Vic Rodriguez, said they respect Bello for his remark as it is the latter's right to express his personal opinion even though it is "nonsense."

"Si Walden Bello, ang vice presidential bet na mahilig sa balitaktakan, ay may karapatang magpahayag ng kanyang mga personal na pananaw gaano man kawalang-kwenta ang mga ito," Rodriguez said.

(Walden Bello has the right to express his personal opinion no matter how nonsense it is.)

"Iginagalang namin ang kanyang kalayaan sa pamamahayag at hangad namin na sana ay matagpuan niya ang kapayapaan sa pag-iisip at kababaang-loob upang kilanlin ang pangangailangan ng bansa na pagkakaisa upang tugunan ang krisis na kinakaharap ngayon ng sambayanan," he added.

(We respect his right to express and we also wish that he could have a peaceful mind and humble heart to acknowledge the needs of the country to address the crisis.)

Mayor Cristina Frasco, Duterte's spokespersons, refused to comment on Bello's latest tirade against the tandem.

Cowards

During the vice presidential debate hosted by CNN Philippines on Saturday, Bello called Duterte, daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, a "coward like Bongbong Marcos" for refusing to face the public.

In the same debate, Bello also claimed that Duterte has no program to reveal to the people, and all she had to propose was a bill mandating military service among all 18-year-olds in the country.

Bello thus said that the tandem’s refusal to attend confrontative debates might have stemmed from their fear of "hiding bad records, bad views."

"My view of both Bongbong and Sara Duterte is that they were scared. They were scared of being stripped in public, of their views being rendered as shallow, and for people seeing them for what they are. It’s a smokescreen, this kind of not participating in this kind of critical engagements which is so essential to democracy," he said.

On Robredo

In the same television interview on Monday, Bello said he would consider supporting Vice President Leni Robredo if his running mate, Leody de Guzman, is not vying for the top post in the upcoming elections.

"If he were not there, I would really have to seriously think of whether I should support the Vice President or whether to just not endorse anybody," he said.

However, Bello also underscored that he was “not impressed” with the records of Robredo, recalling her stint in Congress and having worked with her for three years.

"Yes, she had pushed for a number of laws including the Freedom of Information bill. But, she really did not work in the way that I expected somebody to work which was active and really pushing," he said.

He added that Robredo's programs were "very, very shallow," not “forward-looking,” and reactive to President Duterte’s issues such as that of alleged human rights violations.

GMA News Online has also reached out to Robredo’s camp, but they have yet to respond as of posting time.  —with Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK/RSJ, GMA News