Kiko says candidates who skip debates cannot be trusted

Candidates for the May elections who skip debates and forums are disrespecting the voters and cannot be trusted, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, a vice presidential candidate, said Thursday.

In a speech in Oriental Mindoro, Pangilinan compared candidates to suitors who are trying to win the hearts of the voters.

"Kung kami ang nanliligaw, hinihingi namin sa inyo ang matamis ninyong oo. Pero bago kayo magsabi ng yes, hindi ba dapat humarap kami? Hindi ba dapat ‘yung nanliligaw haharap? Hindi 'yung hindi sumasama sa mga debate? ‘Yung anak ko, tatlo ang anak kong babae, pagka may nanliligaw sa kanila at hindi humaharap, nirerespeto ba ako?" Pangilinan asked, to which the audience answered "No."

(If we are courting you then we want you to say yes. But before you say yes, is it just right that we present ourselves to you? I have three daughters. If they have suitors who refuse to show up before me, does that show respect?)

"Pag hindi sila humarap, mukhang may tinatago. Pagka hindi humaharap ‘yung nanliligaw sa mga anak kong babae, bibigyan ko ba ng pansin o oras? Maganda ba ang hangarin nun?" he added, again drawing a "No" answer from the crowd.

(If they don't show up, it seems like they are hiding something. If suitors don't face the parents of the person they are wooing, why would we give them time? Would they have good intentions?)

Pangilinan, Vice President Leni Robredo's running mate, did not mention any names, but presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has been the subject of criticism for his absence in two media-organized elections events.

Marcos only attended one forum with fellow presidential bets so far, the one hosted by SMNI, the broadcasting unit of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church.

Despite his absences in a presidential interview and a debate, Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr., continues to lead in various preelection surveys along with his running mate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

"Nagtatanong lang po ako pero kayo na ang sumagot. Pero kung ako ang ama at humarap sa akin ang mga lumiligaw sa anak ko, aba eh siyempre kinakailangan naman mabigyan ng kaunting oras at panahon dahil nagbibigay ng respeto at nagbibigay galang," Pangilinan told the audience.

(You said it yourself. We give our time of day to those who show up because they are the ones who respect us.)

"Kailangan ang taumbayan, ginagalang [The voters deserve respect]" he said. —KBK, GMA News