The Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has organized a presidential forum which will be aired Friday morning
The KBP said five presidential aspirants have confirmed their participation in the forum.
These include: Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Manny Pacquiao, Manila Mayor Francicso “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, and labor leader Leody de Guzman.
The KBP said the presidential forum will air on over 300 KBP stations nationwide. KBP president Herman Basbaño said in a statement said it ”will be the first time for the five presidential candidates to appear together in a live nationwide radio and television broadcast to present their qualifications and platforms of government to the people.”
The KBP said the presidential forum will be moderated by Rico Hizon of CNN Philippines) and Karen Davila of ABS-CBN.
The panelists are Bombo Elmar of Bombo Radyo Philippines), Roby Alampay of OnePH), Dan Andrew Cura of FEBC, the and Ed Lingao of TV5. Basbaño said the KBP is conducting the forum as a “public service.”
Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. will not join the presidential forum.
In a statement, Marcos Jr.’s chief of staff Atty. Vic Rodriguez said scheduling issues prevent him from participating in the event.
Rodriguez said Marcos Jr.’s camp has been looking forward to participating in the event. “We look forward to engaging with similar KBP initiatives in the future,” Rodriguez said.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) spokesperson James Jimenez meanwhile said the decision of poll bets to attend or skip forums could be a “red flag” for voters.
However, he said the poll body “does not care.” A GMANews Report quoted Jimenez saying that “it could be a red flag for the voters. Absolutely, not for the Comelec. Comelec does not care either way if they come or not,” Jimenez told reporters in a virtual press conference.
The official, in the report, said the Comelec’s main concern “was whether the public would have the chance to screen candidates for their beliefs, opinions, among others.”