Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. had his sincerity to be president questioned as he failed to appear in yet another presidential interview on Friday, February 4.
The former senator, once again, snubbed a forum involving other presidential candidates, this time, an event organized by Kapisanan ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP).
He decided not to join the presidential discussion hosted by broadcast journalists Karen Davila and Rico Hizon and instead accommodated the invitation of Korina Sanchez for her magazine show Rated Korina.
Earlier, the presidential aspirant did not join Jessica Soho’s The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews claiming that the award-winning broadcast journalist was “biased.”
Now, netizens were tired of Marcos being a no-show.
Netizens ridiculed the former senator for his decision to appear in a “cooking show” rather than getting “grilled by the panelists from KBP.”
https://twitter.com/mxmxntx_mxrx/status/1489460317356584961
https://twitter.com/iamkaturaylee/status/1489626151303917571
https://twitter.com/Manuel_Frnndz/status/1489615222281101314
Others also doubted his capability to lead a nation since Marcos could not appear in mere interviews.
https://twitter.com/KenAbante/status/1489621451934076928
Philstar news editor Jonathan de Santos agreed that Marcos does have the freedom to refuse any interview. However, he stressed that this option should not be taken advantage of.
Totoo naman, Marcos might have the luxury of picking and choosing where he appears but facing the press as an institution is not a matter of luxury.
True in the long run and for every candidate: How are we to help keep them accountable when they've grown used to free passes?
— Jonathan de Santos (@desamting) February 4, 2022
A netizen disagreed with de Santos, stressing that Marcos should appear in almost all of his interviews for the public to know him better.
https://twitter.com/NakaupoAngTuta/status/1489624044521410563
Another considered Marcos a selfish person, and therefore, not fit to be the next Philippine President.
#bbm #bbmsarah2022
Uunahin ni Marcos jr sarili nyang gusto, kesa sa kailangan ng taong bayan at pilipinas. Wala na ngang diploma wala pang effort. Basta ayaw nya hindi siya pupunta, di pwede yung ugaling yan as President. #BaBackoutMuli— Goldenjokes (@Goldenjoketime) February 4, 2022
Vic Rodriguez, Marcos’s spokesperson, explained that the presidential candidate wants a one-on-one interview.
A netizen then pointed out that the former senator might lose some of his supporters in exchange for not being compared to other presidential aspirants.
There we go. The plan is to not to avoid all interviews per se, but to prevent him from being compared to other candidates. The fear is that uncommitted BBM voters will be swayed to shift to other candidates based on their position on issues and policies. https://t.co/zf6K2V32Ur
— Luc Dioneda (@lucindomino) February 3, 2022
He also failed to appear in another GMA Network program, wherein Marcos was having “technical difficulties,” hindering his appearance in the radio show DZBB.
Only Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Manny Pacquiao and Ping Lacson, Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and labor leader Ka Leody de Guzman graced KBP’s presidential forum.
