MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Action star-turned politician Lito Lapid said he is not keen on debating on key national issues with senatorial race rivals after opposition senatorial candidates under the Otso Diretso banner earlier challenged fellow candidates to a debate.
搁贰础顿:听Otso Diretso bets want聽debate聽with opponents on key issues
鈥淗indi, hindi naman ako nakikipag-contest sa pagalingan eh. Eh sila naman may galing. 鈥榊ung galing nila siguro鈥檛 alam nila hindi ko alam. Pero may alam din naman akong di nila alam,鈥� Lapid told reporters before the start of his press conference on Wednesday.
(I am not competing with their know-how and expertise.聽 They may know things that I don鈥檛, but I also know things that they have no knowledge of.)
鈥淣agdidirek naman ako sa pelikula, eh siguro pagdirekin mo sa pelikula 鈥榶un di nila alam. Oh di ba? Kanya-kanya lang pinag-aralan 鈥榶an,鈥� he explained.
(I direct movies, if you ask them to do the same, I don鈥檛 think they can, right? We have different sets of knowledge and skills.)
The former Pampanga governor also argued that debates are not the only barometer for one鈥檚 ability to serve.
鈥淗indi naman siguro mapapakita sa debates 鈥榶ung kagalingan ng isang taong gustong tumulong para sa ating mamamayan,鈥� he said.
(Debates alone cannot prove a candidate鈥檚 ability and willingness to serve.)
Martial law
Pressed for comment on the Supreme Court鈥檚 decision to uphold the third extension of聽martial聽law聽in Mindanao until Dec. 31, 2019, the former legislator answered: 鈥淒epende siguro.鈥�
(It depends.)
鈥淪iguro wala naman hinahangad 鈥榶ung ating mahal na pangulo kundi katahimikan din,鈥� he added.
(The President only wishes聽 to have peace and quiet.)
Lapid also vowed to support President Rodrigo Duterte鈥檚 legislative agenda when elected to the Senate.
Lapid, meanwhile, attributed his good performance in recent pre-election surveys to his role in ABS-CBN鈥檚 鈥�FPJ鈥檚 Ang Probinsyano.鈥�
He also said he is not eyeing the presidency.
鈥淜aya hindi ako pinag-iinitan dahil 鈥榙i ako sagabal sa kanila,鈥� he quipped.
(That is why they are not picking on me, I am not a threat.)
Lapid, a member of the Nationalist People鈥檚 Coalition (NPC), also vowed to pursue education and pro-poor bills if reelected to the Senate. / gsg
搁贰础顿:听Lito Lapid to champion education, pro-poor bills in Senate comeback