Marcos a no-show in TV interview of top presidential bets

Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has declined to participate in a GMA interview with fellow candidates regarding their position on pressing national issues, the network reported on Friday night.

In a teaser for the Jessica Soho presidential interviews to be aired on Saturday night, GMA said it invited the five leading presidential candidates who had tapped pre-election surveys, and that all but Marcos agreed to take part.

The other candidates who sat down to answer questions were Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

The candidates were asked whether they would continue the Duterte administration’s war on drugs and assert the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling in favor of the Philippines and invalidating China’s sweeping claim over the South China Sea.