After being called 'a coward', spokesperson says Sara won't attend debates, will campaign instead

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte has decided to campaign for the vice presidency without attending debates, her spokesperson said on Monday.

Liloan, Cebu Mayor Christina Frasco indicated Sara has would instead woo voters on the campaign trail.

"Mayor Sara has already decided to do a campaign without attending debates and instead work her hardest on the ground to continue to earn the trust and win the vote of the people as the next Vice President of the Philippines," Frasco said in a statement.

Frasco made the remark a day after vice presidential candidate former Akbayan Representative Walden Bello called Sara "a coward" for skipping the vice presidential debate on Sunday.

Bello also called Sara's standard bearer former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. the same.

"Candidates are at liberty to decide whether or not to accept invitations to debates," Frasco said.

"It is also within a candidate’s discretion to limit his exposure to tweets and soundbytes only, as Walden Bello has done, or to have direct and personal engagement with the people, as Mayor Sara has shown this entire campaign season," she added.

Frasco said Sara had visited 70 cities, towns, islands, provinces, in less than 2 months speaking directly to the people.

She said Sara would leave Davao City debt-free, the 4th Most Competitive City in the Philippines, and the 7th richest City in the country. In less than 5 years since her assumption as Mayor in 2016, Davao City has received no less than 118 awards, citations, and recognitions. —NB, GMA News