15 Feb Presidential debate 2016: Duterte Not to Attend The Debate If Local Media Get Discriminated
Image Source | www.philstar.com
After the Cagayan de Oro Press Club released a statement regarding the limited slots given by the organizers of the first presidential debate for the local media, it quite drew attention among the local people including the presidential candidate from Mindanao Rodrigo Duterte. With this, the incumbent mayor of Davao threatened not to attend the said debate on Sunday, February 21 in Cagayan de Oro.
“I will not go there also,” a press statement from the Duterte camp quoted the candidate as saying on the sidelines of an event late Sunday.
“[I am running for] president because I want people from the provinces to be given equal treatment,” Duterte said, as quoted in the statement.
Duterte also urged the poll body to have a dialogue open for local journalists in cities which the debates will be hosted.
There will also be a debate in Cebu on March 20 and another one in Manila on April 24 after the February 21 debate to be held in Cagayan de Oro.
“It would be unfortunate … if the local media will feel they are being treated as second-class citizens in the press community,” Duterte said.
On April 10, a vice-presidential debate will be mounted by Rappler, CNN Philippines and BusinessMirror.
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