Marcos Jr. trolling the debates by being absent

PERSONALLY, I would have preferred if survey frontrunner Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had attended the presidential debate sponsored by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). While he may have made the calculation that his absence would no longer make a dent in his voter base, his attendance would have at least shown respect for the event sponsor as the lead body solely tasked to oversee the May 9 elections.

And then we realize that perhaps his absence is part of the entire narrative he wants to impart not only to his loyal base, but to all of us. My belief that his non-participation not only in this Comelec-sponsored debate but in other debates and interviews is part of his messaging is based on the very nature of what his loyal voter base is, and has become.