Walden Bello drops F-bombs on 'idiot,' 'coward' BBM-Sara tandem during CNN PH's VP debates
Vice presidential aspirant Walden Bello had no chill toward rival candidate, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio and her standard bearer Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., dropping F-bombs on them and calling them "cowards" and "idiots" for being a no-show in the debates.
“I’m really terribly sorry that Mayor (Sara) Duterte is not here to face the people," Bello said during the CNN Philippines' vice presidential debates on Feb. 26. "She is a coward. Just like Bongbong Marcos is a f***ing coward!”
Marcos Jr. cited "conflict of schedule" as an excuse for skipping the CNN Philippines presidential debate on Feb. 27. Duterte-Carpio, meanwhile, didn't provide a reason for being a no-show, according to CNN Philippines.
For the VP debate's closing statements, in which the bets were asked if they're ready to take over the presidency in case of an emergency, Bello used the time to "air" his "problem" that is the Marcos-Duterte tandem.
"Sara Duterte is not here," Bello said. "They're watching us, fighting one another. She was not here to reveal her program because she has no program for the people."
"We need Marcos and Duterte to come and reveal themselves to the people," adding that they've supposedly spat on the faces of Filipinos for not showing up in the event.
"Because they have f***ing no programs," Bello said. "I don't care what a number of people say, but I feel very strongly about the absence of these two idiots in this event."
When the VP bets were asked about their stance on political dynasties, Bello also minced no words in putting Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio to the task.
"Well, the Marcos dynasty and the Duterte dynasty," Bello said, "we're seeing how they represent really the greatest evil of the political system that we have."
The late dictator Ferdinand Marcos held on to power for 20 years through martial law with his wife, former first lady Imelda Marcos.
Even after they were ousted through EDSA People Power Revolution, the Marcoses are still in power.
Senator Imee Marcos was once a congresswoman and governor of Ilocos Norte. Her son, Matthew Marcos Manotoc, is their bailiwick's current governor. Ferdinand's nephew Michael Marcos Keon is the incumbent mayor of Laoag City. Bongbong's son Sandro Marcos is running as Ilocos Norte's 1st District representative.
President Rodrigo Duterte's son Paolo "Pulong" Duterte, meanwhile, will seek reelection as Davao City 1st District Representative. When Rodrigo was still mayor, Paolo served as his vice mayor in 2013 and Sara's later on in 2018. Sebastian "Baste" Duterte replaced him as vice mayor in 2019 after securing a congressional seat. Baste is now running for mayor.
"Which is why it's really important for our people if you really want to oppose political dynasties, here's the two dynasties," Bello said, noting that the political families from the north and the south will "eat up the Philippines."
The respective camps of Duterte-Carpio and Marcos Jr. have yet to react to Bello's words as of this writing.
Bello also spiced things up by criticizing Senators Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan and Vicente "Tito" Sotto III for their stance on issues. At one point, his microphone was turned off for interrupting his fellow candidates as they were speaking.
Following his performance in the debates, Bello has been among Twitter's trending topics, with over 19,000 tweets bearing his name.
Seven of nine bets attended the CNN vice presidential debate: Bello, Rizalito David, Manny SD Lopez, Dr. Willie Ong, Pangilinan, Carlos Serapio, and Sotto.
Deputy House Speaker Lito Atienza, though he confirmed his attendance last time, would have to beg off due to a knee replacement surgery.
Nine of 10 presidential bets, meanwhile, would be going to the Feb. 27 debates: Leody de Guzman, Ernesto Abella, Jose Montemayor Jr., Norberto Gonzales, Senator Manny Pacquiao, Faisal Mangondato, Senator Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, and Vice President Leni Robredo.