Gordon to rivals who backed out of Harapan tandem debate: "You cannot handle the pressure of facing the people's questions"

Bagumbayan Party presidential bet Sen. Richard J. Gordon expressed disappointment with his fellow candidates who backed out of ANC's Harapan tandem debate.

Gordon pointed out that candidates who refuse to face questions from the people and from their fellow candidates are afraid that the public might see the reality behind the television ads.

"I'm sorry na nangyari iyan. Ang kaibahan ng eleksyon ngayon ay kailangan ipakita ng kandidato yung kakayahan nila. Hindi lang yung kakayahan nilang gumastos ng pera o kakayahan nilang gamitin ang impluwensiya ng kanilang pamilya," he said when asked to comment on candidates who backed out of the debate.

"Kung hindi humarap ang kandidato ibig sabihin hindi niya kaya ang pressure na humarap sa mga tanong. Siya ay naniniguro na siya ay mananalo dahil sa ginagawa nilang pag-kondisyon sa utak ng mga tao na siya ay panalo na," he added.

The Bagumbayan standard-bearer stressed that it is a big mistake on the part of those candidates because the people are beginning to see the need for discernment in choosing the country's next leaders.

"Nakikita ko nagbabago na ang pag-iisip ng mga tao, nakikita na nila na ang kandidato kailangan meron talagang maipapakita na kaya niyang gawin," he said.

"Kapag hindi humarap ang kandidato, nawawalan ang tao. Malaking pagkakamali nila iyan na dapat singilin ng taongbayan. Dapat malaman nila kung anong klaseng leader ang magiging presidente nila. Pag hindi natin nakilatis ang presidente at puro TV ads lang, ang nakikita lang natin ay yung make-up, yung make-believe world," he added.

ABS-CBN's "Harapan: The Tandem Presidential Debate" scheduled for Sunday night was cancelled, after several presidential and vice-presidential candidates declined to participate.

The only presidential and vice presidential tandems to have confirmed attendance are Gordon and his running mate former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando, and Bangon Pilipinas tandem of Bro. Eddie Villanueva and former Securities and Exchange Commission chief Perfecto Yasay.(