UNITEAM senatorial candidate Harry Roque has justified the decisions of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio not to attend the debate organized by Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“Naniniwala po ako na importante na malaman ng taong bayan ang plataporma ng mga kandidato pero ang mga plataporma naman po ang nasasaad hindi lamang po sa pamamagitan ng debate,” Roque said in the Pandesal Forum on Monday.

“Iyan po ang dahilan kung bakit meron po tayong mass media at internet na nagsisilbing information super highway,” he said.

Roque said that he would also not attend debates if he were a frontrunner, recalling the scenario that rivals of former vice president Jejomar Binay overthrew him during the campaign period.

“Si VP Binay po was not just 60 percent which is the rating of both Apo Bongbong and Inday Sara. He was, in fact, 80 percent pero nakita natin na ginamit ng mga kalaban ‘yung debate para pagkakataon nila napabagsakin ang kandidatura ni Jojo Binay,” Roque said.

He noted that debates during the election are not the only way to know a candidate’s position, saying that it is the way of those who are low in surveys.

Meanwhile, he lauded the SMNI channel for having a “fair debate.”

“Ako ay nagagandahan sa format ng SMNI kasi ginamit nila mga dalubhasa para magtanong so makikita natin na hindi lang sa walang kinikilingan, kung hindi ang mga tanong ay nanggagaling sa hanay ng eksperto na talagang nais na malaman ang panindigan ng mga kandidato,” Roque said. With Blessie Amor Vicente and Joanne Rosario (OJTs)

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Ryan Ponce Pacpaco