According to an announcement made by CNN Philippines on February 14, presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. has chosen to skip his third major presidential forum due to a “conflict of schedule.”

The spokesman of Marcos, lawyer Vic Rodriguez, had confirmed via a text message that the front-running presidential aspirant intended to skip the presidential forum by CNN Philippines since he intends to attend instead the live debate hosted by the SMNI network owned by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy who’s wanted by the FBI for sex trafficking of children. This was after the news franchise reported the announcement to the public.

The said presidential forum is hosted by CNN Philippines is scheduled to air on February 27, whereas its Vice Presidential debates will be held on February 26. 

Marcos’ running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will also be skipping the VP debates but did not provide a reason for it, according to CNN Philippines.

Initially, Marcos had chosen to skip the GMA News presidential interviews, even calling veteran journalist Jessica Soho “biased” because of the newscaster’s open beliefs that she is “anti-Marcos.” Marcos even skipped the forum organized by the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and attended the DZRH presidential interview instead. 

“His spokesperson [Rodriguez] may just run out of excuses for him not to attend any of the presidential debates and fora,” stated the Chairman of Mayor Isko Moreno’s Aksyon Demokratiko Ernest Ramel during a statement made last week.

“We see that eventually, people will understand that what they need is ‘Tunay na Solusyon, Mabilis na Aksyon’ amidst these very difficult times. Not more of promises of unity when he actually represents discord, promises without any real pruweba and motherhood statements,” Ramel in a statement last week.

Photo credit: Facebook.com/BongbongMarcos