The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Wednesday blasted former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the defeated 2016 vice presidential candidate, for being a “no-show” at his own challenge to sign a joint legal document.

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal, counsel for Robredo, said in a press conference that Marcos was only bluffing when his camp dared Robredo to “sign a joint motion withdrawing all our outstanding motions so we could go straight to the recount.”

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“He’s escaping from the challenge that he had been hurling before the media. For about a week, iyon ang palaging sinasabi nila [that was what they were always saying]: “We challenge the camp of Ms. Robredo to come up with a joint motion,” Macalintal said in a press conference on Wednesday.

“Eh noong in-accept namin iyong challenge, bigla siyang kumawala. Ngayon alam ninyo na,” he said.

(But when we accepted the challenge, he started skirting it. Now you already know)

Marcos’ camp, through lawyer Victor Rodriguez, issued a statement on Sunday, Feb. 4, daring Robredo to sign the document.

The Robredo camp issued an advisory on Tuesday, Feb. 6, announcing that they would wait for Marcos on Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Shakey’s Pizza on Roxas Boulevard in Malate, Manila.

However, Marcos nor his legal counsel appeared at the restaurant.

READ: Robredo lawyer hits Marcos ‘publicity stunt’ on petitions

“They knew na dito kami magkikita. Alam nila dito kami magkikita. I texted his lawyer: ‘Pare, puwede tayong mag-usap?’ Pero Mr. Marcos is a no-show dito. Hindi siya nagpakita,” Macalintal said.

(They knew we will be meeting here. I texted his lawyer and told him ‘can we talk?’ He did not show up.)

“Bakit hindi ka magkakakita eh ikaw ang naghahamon? Kung ikaw ang naghahamon, ang isang tunay na maginoo ay dapat tinutupad ang kaniyang pangako,” he said.

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(How come we did not meet since he was the one who issued the challenge? If you issued the challenge, the real gentleman is to be true to your promise.) /jpv

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