Presidential candidate Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. declined the invitation to join a forum with his opponents due to a supposed conflict in schedule, its organizer said Thursday.
The son and namesake of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. was the only candidate to turn down the invitation to appear on Friday. His five rivals are attending, Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas President Herman Basbaño said.
"Ang hindi nagtanggap ng ating imbitasyon ay si former senator Bongbong Marcos...May letter naman sila declining the invitation due to some conflicts sa mga schedules nila," Basbaño told TeleRadyo.
Presidential candidates who accepted the forum invitation according to Basbaño are Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, and labor leader Leody de Guzman.
Earlier, Marcos Jr. declined the interview request of Peabody awardee Jessica Soho, whom he accused of being "biased" against his family.
WHAT WENT BEFORE:
Why Bongbong Marcos Declined Jessica Soho Interview
GMA Rejects Marcos' Bias Claim, Says Tough Questions Must be Asked
Bongbong Says 'Biased' Means 'Anti-Marcos'
Marcos Jr. earlier granted interviews to vlogger Toni Gonzaga and TV host Boy Abunda, both on YouTube.
The 2022 KBP Presidential Candidates Forum is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 4, at 9 a.m. and will be moderated by CNN Philippines' Rico Hizon, and ABS-CBN News' Karen Davila.
The forum will be simulcast on CNN Philippines, ABS-CBN, TV5, and over 300 broadcast stations nationwide.
ALSO READ:
Are Journalists Biased for Asking Candidates Hard Questions?
Those Marcos Videos on TikTok are Rooted in Decades of Misinformation
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