Pacquiao challenges Marcos Jr. to one-on-one debate

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday challenged former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to a one-on-one debate following the latter's absence in the first debate organized by the Commission on Elections on Saturday.

Asked if he felt bad that he was not able to face Marcos in the debate, Pacquiao said, "Baka nahihiya siya sa maraming aattend. Okay sa akin magdebate kaming dalawa lang."

"Tingnan natin kung ano ang plataporma niya, kung ano ang plataporma ko." he added.

"Baka may mabuti nga siyang plataporma na higit pa doon sa pagbibigay ng trabaho, pagbibigayng tahanan na libre sa mga pamilya, pagbibigay ng hanapbuhay, pagpapalakas ng ekonomya," Pacquiao said.

Marcos is the only presidential candidate who skipped the Comelec-organized debates over the weekend.

A spokesman said the Marcos camp would “continue our 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.”

Marcos had declined participating as well in the presidential interviews with GMA Network’s Jessica Soho and the forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.

He also declined joining the presidential debate put together by CNN Philippines.

Marcos joined the debate organized by the SMNI, which several presidential candidates skipped. —NB, GMA News