(UPDATE) Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday challenged former senator Bongbong Marcos to a debate so that the two leading presidential candidates in the May 9 elections can face the electorate's scrutiny at the same time.
If the only son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos agrees, Robredo said: "Anytime, anywhere, darating ako." Marcos had skipped all debates and fora attended by Robredo and his main rivals.
"Inaanyayahan ko si Ginoong Bongbong Marcos na makipagdebate, para mabigyan ang taumbayan ng pagkakataong makaharap siya at matanong tungkol sa mga kontrobersiyang pumapalibot sa kanya. We owe it to the people and to our country," Robredo said.
EXPLAINER: 'Pinklawan', Magnanakaw: How Name-Calling Works, Then Backfires
Robredo said she would decline Comelec's panel interviews the week before the elections after attending the two earlier debates to be with her campaign volunteers. Marcos skipped the two Comelec debates and has declined the panel interview.
"Sa puntong ito, isang kandidato na lang ang hindi pa humaharap sa taumbayan sa isang debate kasama ang lahat ng ibang kandidato. Mahalaga sana ito para masuri kami ng publiko, at para marinig nila at mapagkumpara ang vision at pagkatao namin," Robredo said.
ALSO READ: BBC Asks Bongbong Marcos: Are You Hiding Something?
Marcos has so far attended the debate organized by SMNI channel, owned by religious leader Apollo Quiboloy, one of his endorsers. He also sat down with state broadcaster PTV and CNN Philippines where his family's unpaid estate tax of P203 billion was not asked.