Senatoriable Chiz Escudero is supporting Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s decision not to attend debates saying it is the right of the campaign team or the candidate not to attend debates. He added that organizers cannot force the candidates to attend debates.
“Desisiyon ng campaign team yan. Ginawa ko rin yan sa mga nagdaang elections. Hindi para kanino man pilitin ang kandidato gawin ang isang bagay sa panahon ng kampanyahan. Decision ng campaign team at decision ng kandidato yan na dapat galangin at tanggapin nila. Mas alam ng campaign team at kandidato ang kailangn niyang gawin sa election higit sa sino man,” Escudero told Davao media.
It can be recalled that Mayor Sara shunned debates for personal reasons and opted to meet the people through campaign sorties. Her action irked vice presidentiable Walden Bello and called her coward for not showing up in the debate hosted by CNN Philippines to which Liloan Mayor Christine Frasco, political spokesperson of Mayor Sara, responded by saying candidates are at liberty to decide whether or not to accept invitations to debates.
She added that it is also within a candidate’s discretion to limit his exposure to tweets and soundbites only.
Escudero added that the organizers only wanted their debates to be successful so they put pressure on the candidates who are running for high positions.
“Yung mga nag-i-imbita ng debate gusto lamang nilang maging matagumpay ang kanilang ginawa na debate. Ang basehan nila na matagumpay ang debate ay kung umattend ang pinakamataas o topnotcher sa mga surveys na lumalabas ngayon,” he said.
Meanwhile, Escudero expressed gratitude to Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for endorsing him and vowed to make it up for the mayor for always mentioning his name wherever she goes.
Escudero is among the personal choice of Mayor Sara for her senatorial candidates. The mayor always mentions his name in her campaign sorties.
“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko kay Mayor Sara sa kanyang pagdala at pagbanggit sa aking pangalan kung saan man siya magtungo. Nagkaroon kami ng pagkakataon na magkatrabaho sa mga nagdaaang taon nung ako ay nasa senado, kay mayor ganon din kay President Duterte. Tinatanaw ko na utang na loob ito at makakabawi din ako sa kanya,” Escudero said.
