On January 21, Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. backed out from The Jessica Soho Presidential Interview on GMA Network.
Soho’s special Kapuso program included featured presidential aspirants Ping Lacson, Isko Moreno, Manny Pacquiao, and Vice President Leni Robredo with Marcos being visibly absent from the event.
Despite him being the only candidate missing, Marcos’ camp cited that their reason for not attending the program was that the most trusted media personality in the Philippines was supposedly biased against the presidential aspirant.
As a result, netizens went on social media to poke fun at Marcos through various memes with the #MarcosDuwag.
One netizen referenced Drake’s Bling meme to show Marcos’ refusal of Jessica Soho’s invite while citing his interview with Toni Gonzaga.
https://twitter.com/uysijeco/status/1484512271397429259
A similar meme jested how Marcos would react to Soho’s interview versus his past interview with Gonzaga.
https://twitter.com/vrncrstbl23/status/1484501079325032457
Others seem to mock Marcos’ attempt to ‘flee’ from the said interview.
✈️✈️✈️ pic.twitter.com/jUMIwgX2Ej
— Malacañang Events and Catering Services (@MalacananEvents) January 22, 2022
https://twitter.com/Dork_Knightt/status/1484505301940604931
One netizen even called Marcos “Chicken of the Year 2022.”
https://twitter.com/MalacananEvents/status/1484501211839492097
Some even referenced Marcos’ absence from the disqualification hearing in the Commission on Election (COMELEC), playing on the “zoomicron” term used by COMELEC Commissioner Rowena Guanzon.
Zoomicron nung nakaraan, SOHOMICRON naman ngayon. #MarcosDuwag pic.twitter.com/K8kTOfsI0j
— ricci (@ricci_richy) January 21, 2022
@IamCharotism noted how Marcos seemed to change from “Golden Tiger” to a cat.
Golden Tiger nyo naging pussy cat sa debate. Charot!
— Charot! (@IamCharotism) January 21, 2022
Other netizens recalled instances when Marcos attended christenings and weddings despite the pandemic.
https://twitter.com/roxsantos/status/1484517871120048128
Marcos Jr hanggang Toni Gonzaga interview onli pic.twitter.com/jDuUgpOvlJ
— Maria Sol Taule (@soltaule) January 21, 2022
#NeverAgain #MarcosMahina #MarcosDuwag https://t.co/Huwlw77IYe
— JC Punongbayan, PhD (@jcpunongbayan) January 21, 2022
Finally, one netizen satirized Marcos’ acronym from “Babangon Muli” to “Ba-backout Muli.”
Photo from Facebook.#MarcosDuwag pic.twitter.com/E6AYW69Buo
— Davao Volunteers Hub (@davaovolunteers) January 22, 2022
In response to the press release sent by Marcos’ camp, GMA Network released their statement noting that “they take exception to the statement of the camp of former senator Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos” while citing the plethora of credentials for Jessica Soho.
Noticeably, Soho’s interview with the aspirants marks the first leg of the Presidential elections in May 2022, and Marcos is the only one not present at the said event.
