David appeals to other bets: ‘Let us defeat Marcos Jr. and let us defeat Duterte’

Vice presidential candidate Rizalito David on Sunday appealed to other presidential and vice presidential candidates to unify and form a coalition to defeat the tandem of presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte in the May 2022 polls.

David, who is currently the executive director of Pro-Life Philippines Foundation, underscored that he and his running mate, Dr. Jose Montemayor Jr., and other present candidates during the debates organized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) cannot defeat the Marcos-Duterte tandem.

“Marami akong masasabi para iboto ninyo ako at yung aking kasama na si Dr. Joey Montemayor pero at the end of the day, hindi kami mananalo. Wala ni isa dito ang mananalo kay Sara Duterte. Wala ni isa don sa mga presidential candidates ang tatalo kay Bongbong Marcos,” he said on Sunday’s PiliPinas Debates 2022 sponsored by the Comelec.

(I have a lot to say for you to vote for me and my running mate Dr. Joey Montemayor but at the end of the day, we will not win. None of us will win over Sara Duterte. None of the presidential candidates will beat Bongbong Marcos.)

“Kaya ako ay nananawagan ngayon sa aking mga kasamang kandidato (So I am now appealing to my fellow candidates), let us form, let us talk, let us form a grand coalition to defeat Marcos and Duterte. Please, please, please do a selfless act. Let us defeat Marcos, and let us defeat Duterte together because we cannot do it by our lonesome,” he added.

During the debate, he also called on Duterte to attend debates in order for the public to hear her stance on the issues in the country.

“Nalulungkot po ako dahil yung nangunguna sa survey hindi po natin marinig ang opinion sa bagay na ito sana nandito si Inday Sara para masabi niya yung nais niyang sabihin hinggil dito sa bagay na. Inday Sara dumalo ka naman, gusto namin makamayan [ka] man lang,” he said.

(I'm sad that the person leading the survey is not here, we can't hear her opinion on this matter, I hope Inday Sara is here so she can say what she wants about this matter. Inday Sara, attend the debates, we want to shake hands with you.)

Despite their absences in some debates and interviews, Marcos and Duterte lead various pre-election presidential surveys.

GMA News Online has sought the reaction of Marcos and Duterte’s camp.

Marcos’ camp  earlier said that it would continue with its “preferred mode of direct communication with the people and engage them in a more personal face to face interaction that discusses real issues that affect them today, tomorrow and in the days to come as this election is all about our collective future.”

Meanwhile, Duterte’s camp said it did not receive any formal invitation from the poll body regarding the debate. — RSJ, GMA News