Marcos dominates Facebook conversations during VP debate

Senator Bongbong Marcos.
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. edged out his rivals as the most talked-about candidate on Facebook during the first and only vice presidential debate on Sunday.

Facebook data showed that from 4 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, Marcos was the subject of 42 percent of the conversations about the vice presidential bets in the Philippines.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano came in second with 37 percent, while Camarines Sur representative Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo had 27 percent.

Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero trailed behind with 17 percent, while Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan II got four percent. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV only had three percent.

Facebook clarified that since people may discuss more than one vice presidential candidate, the percentages could add up to more than 100 percent.

During the debate, Marcos was pressed by his rivals over his family’s alleged corrupt activities and human rights abuses during martial law. He was also heckled by the audience.

READ: Bongbong Marcos heckled at opening of VP debate

Despite being bashed, Marcos, however said he saw no reason to hold a grudge against his rivals and even described the event as “fun.”

READ: Amid bashing, Bongbong says VP debate was ‘fun’

He said the tirades against him were a “standard political strategy” of his rivals, especially after recent surveys showed him as a front-runner in the race for vice president.

Among the election-related topics, transparency was the most talked-about issue with 74 percent followed by social welfare, 16 percent; economy, 9 percent; infrastructure, 6 percent; education, 3 percent; defense and foreign policy, 2 percent; and health, 1 percent. IDL