JE C.C.
The former dictator’s son cited the award-winning Kapuso broadcast journalist Jessica Soho as biased against him as the reason for his no-show to the Presidential Interview, hosted by the latter on January 22, 2022.
Seems like Bongbong Marcos’ camp got no problem in undermining its principles and statements over and over again, as the former senator’s attendance to the recently-held, SMNI Presidential Debate, directly contradicts his camp’s reasoning for not participating in the Jessica Soho-moderated presidential interview.
It can be recalled that Marcos declined to join his fellow aspirants VP Leni Robredo, Senator Panfilo Lacson, Senator Manny Pacquiao, and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno to take the hot seat prepared by GMA News, due to Jessica Soho’s alleged bias against the Marcoses.
In a statement, Marcos spokesman said “…“We believe her questions will just focus on negativity about BBM which the UniTeam dislike” to which GMA News disproved by reminding Marcos and the voters that “The questions are tough because the job of the presidency is tough.”
Three weeks, however, Marcos confirmed his attendance at the Presidential Debate organized by the Network owned by Pastor Quiboloy, who openly declared his support and endorsement for him.
The Church leader who served as a religious adviser to President Duterte is currently listed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)’s most-wanted list. For these reasons, presidential candidates Pacquiao and Lacson opted to miss the debate, while Moreno and Robredo were unable to attend due to prior commitments.
The fact that SMNI is owned by a known staunch Marcos supporter already raises a red flag for other candidates, but it turned out there is a much bigger anomaly right on the debate’s table of panelists, itself.
One of the panelists who asked the candidates questions, MJ Mondejar, openly supports the Marcos-Duterte tandem. The SMNI news anchor and journalist’s twitter bio reads ‘Bongbong Marcos/Sara Duterte’ for 2022.
One netizen noted on twitter Marcos’ inconsistency. User, @rhusellfamy said “Ayaw magpa=interview kay Jessica Soho kasi biased daw. Pero may openly biased na panelist?”
Ayaw magpa-interview kay Jessica Soho kasi biased daw. Pero may openly biased na panelist? pic.twitter.com/Jw07uAJGpY
— Rhuss (@rhussellfamy) February 15, 2022
Interestingly, it’s not just Mondejar who is a confirmed or alleged Marcos supporter. Professor Clarita Carlos from the University of the Philippines also expressed support, or even admiration on different occasions, for the late dictator. She has openly revered the Marcos presidency as the best in Philippine politics and opposed the exhumation of the late dictator’s body from the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
UP Prof. Clarita Carlos: Duterte is the next best president after Marcos. Our fears of Martial Law are unwarranted. @PTVph pic.twitter.com/vDG2uHkpfV
— Jervis Manahan (@JervisManahan) May 25, 2017
Also part of the panel is Dante Ang, the owner of The Manila Times, and a known Arroyo and Duterte supporter. Ang was appointed by the outgoing president as the Special Envoy of the President for International Public Relations in 2017. Former lawmaker and Iloilo Vice-Governor Atty. Rolex Suplico was also part of the panel. Suplico was indicted in 2017 over a 14.7 million pork scam.
