Walden, Kiko, David call out Sara Duterte for missing VP debates

Vice presidential candidates on Sunday called out Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte for skipping the debate organized by the Commission on Elections while she went on her way on the campaign trail.

Sara, who had been leading the vice presidential surveys since the start of the campaign, also decided not to attend the vice presidential debate CNN Philippines organized in February.

Senator Francis Pangilinan compared Sara's absence in the debate to suitors who didn't present themselves to the parents of the woman they're wooing.

"Alam mo kaming mga kandidato eh nanliligaw ng botante. 'Pag ikaw ay lumiligaw, dapat humaharap," Pangilinan said at the vice presidential debate which Sara missed.

"May tatlo akong anak na babae. Dapat respetuhin ang anak ko, respetuhin ang magulang. 'Pag hindi humaharap, nirerespeto ba kami? 'Pag hindi humaharap, hindi nirerespeto ang botante," he added.

Professor Walden Bello said he wanted to hear what Sara had to say on the debate stage.

"I really like to hear from Sara Duterte no? I mean I don't know why she doesn't appear in this debate, face the Filipino people. I think she should be here," Bello said.

He asked the Comelec to do something about the non-attendance of Sara and her standard bearer former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the debates. 

"Sara Duterte is not with us, we're slashing one another for her benefit. I mean the Commission on Elections should do something about this. Commissioner, chair, maaari ba, can you penalize these two people?"  Bello said.

"I'm really so pissed off that these two jokers are not here, duwag sila [they are cowards]... They have to show up so the Filipino can judge. Otherwise, this is a f—ing big joke," he added.

Pro-life advocate Rizalito David also called Sara to attend the debates in order for the public to hear her stance on the issues.

“Nalulungkot po ako dahil yung nangunguna sa survey hindi po natin marinig ang opinion sa bagay na ito," David said.

"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 added. 

Malabon rally

Sara on Sunday joined the UniTeam’s campaign rally in Barangay Potrero, Malabon.

In her speech, Duterte-Carpio cited her achievements in Davao City as a mayor.

Sara said she would leave Davao City debt-free, the 4th Most Competitive City in the Philippines, and the 8th richest City in the country.

“Ibig po sabihin napapangalagaan naming ang mga negosyante at hanapbuhay sa siyudad naming at naibibigay ng aming gobyerno ang mga pangangailangan ng mga komunidad,” she said.

The second vice presidential debate is scheduled April 23. It will have a town hall format.

Comelec said candidates who would snub its debates would be disallowed from using their e-rally platform.

Sara's running mate former Senator Ferdinand Marcos also skipped the presidential debate on Saturday.

“Dahil ang Pilipino ang ang nasa puso nila ay magkaisa. Dahil po ang Pilipino hindi naman po tayo pala-away. Iyan po ang dapat natin ibalik hindi lang sa larangan ng pulitka – ang tunay na puso ng Pilipino,” he said. —with Mel Matthew Doctor/NB, GMA News