Podiums to be left empty for bets who skip CNN Philippines debates

Composite photo of presidential candidate former Sen. Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and vice presidential candidates Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and Rep. Lito Atienza (Buhay party-list)

Lakas-CMD / The STAR / Boy Santos

MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:25 p.m.) — Empty podiums will be left onstage for presidential candidate former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who are skipping the CNN Philippines debates happening next weekend at the University of Santo Tomas.

Empty podiums will be onstage just in case Marcos and Duterte-Carpio change their minds, CNN Philippines president Benjamin Ramos told UST’s official student publication The Varsitarian.

"We have already set up podiums for the 10 presidential candidates, so we will just leave it blank and just wait for them just in case [they change their] mind. Hindi natin masabi baka magbago [ang] isip [nila] (We can't say, they might change their minds)," Ramos was quoted as saying.

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/02/18/2161714/podiums-be-left-empty-bets-who-skip-cnn-philippines-debates