Additional context is needed on the social media infographic containing a quote from the late former President Benigno Aquino III about his supposed refusal to attend presidential debates.
The art card, supposedly produced by The Daily Tribune on March 13, 2010, recently circulated online after presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. declined to participate in “The Jessica Soho Presidential Interviews” aired over GMA Network.
While the link to the Tribune article is no longer accessible, other media organizations have also reported on Aquino’s statement.
A report published by GMA News Online on March 12, 2010 states that Aquino III made the remark after he failed to attend a presidential forum organized by religious leader Apollo Quiboloy.
He afterwards made the statement regarding his disinterest to attend debates, citing the time needed to prepare for such events and possibility of meeting a “partial” moderator.
Aquino, however, made it clear that he is willing to attend a face-off with his closest rival, then-Sen. Manny Villar. The said face-off did not push through.
“I’ll be very honest with you, sino ba nakikinig doon? Hindi ang target market natin. Cost effectivity noon, tatlong oras ang debate, isang araw mag-review ng notes mo leading to the debate, tapos sa dulo may tatlong minuto magsasalita baka makatagpo pa ng [partial] moderator,” he was quoted as saying in the GMA News Online report.
Read the full story on Fact-Check Patrol.
