Sara Duterte to Skip Debates in VP Campaign

Vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte said Saturday she would skip debates in her campaign, a strategy that's in step with her running mate, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Duterte, who is leading in pre-election surveys and Google Trends, said she was leaving it up to voters to decide, even if she skips the debates, one of which organized by Comelec for vice presidential candidates is set on March 20.

"I've already decided that I will do this campaign without joining debates. Iniiwan ko na po yan sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan, ang pagdesisyon, ang pagpili nila sa vice president na ganito po yung aking direksyon sa kampanya," Duterte told reporters during a campaign-stop in Paranaque City.

Asked if she would change her mind: "Kung magbago man o hindi, we will let you know but as of this very moment the decision is to conduct campaign without joining debates."

Marcos Jr., who's also leading in the surveys, has skipped a debate and a forum hosted by CNN Philippines and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas, respectively. He has also yet to confirm attendance to Comelec's PiliPinas presidential debates on March 19.

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