BONGBONG MARCOS EXPECTS IMMENSE MUDSLINGING IN VP DEBATE

Vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr. today said he is expecting immense mudslinging in the Commission on Elections-organized vice presidential debate at the University of the Santo Tomas.

"We are preparing for all possibilities, intellectual discussions as well as antagonistic exchanges. I think we will have more of the latter," he said.

Marcos, the front runner in the VP race, added that he expects to bear the brunt of the mudslinging given the peculiar attention his campaign has been getting the past two months and the public pronouncements of his rival candidates against him.

But he was quick to concede that it is all part of politics. "But I guess these are all part of politics and we all hear these things during the campaign. We are preparing," he pointed out.

The Comelec's VP debate is co-organized with CNN Philippines and Business Mirror.

The senator, however, said he will stick to his campaign policy of keeping it centered on his call for unity and platform of government and not engage in mudslinging just to stay ahead of his rivals.

"It has always been my belief that mudslinging will not do our country any good. We have been polarized by our leaders long enough and look where it brought us. Instead of trying to put each other down, we should just present our plans and programs to the people so that they will have an informed choice on who to vote come May 9," he pointed out.

He, however, expressed hope that that the attacks would stop after the elections so the elected leaders could begin fulfilling their duties to serve the people.

"This is a reality of the electoral process in our country. But I hope that after the elections, our leaders set aside all politicking and buckle down to work to fulfill their mandate to serve the people," he said.