MANILA - (3rd UPDATE) Vice President and presidential candidate Leni Robredo buffered through her platform presentation in the first segment of the Panata sa Bayan: Presidential Candidates Forum due to poor internet signal.

Robredo, who was at a borrowed office, also had to delay her presentation in the second segment due to unstable connection.

Prior the forum, she said she was near the airport in preparation for a flight.

Nanghiram kami ng opisina malapit sa airport kung saan puwede kami maki Zoom para maka attend ng KBP Presidential Candidates Forum. Nakaschedule sana kaming lumipad ngayong umaga para balikan ang Odette-affected areas, pero pinush back namin ng lunchtime to make time for this. pic.twitter.com/muzQnidHqP

— Leni Robredo (@lenirobredo) February 4, 2022

Robredo was set to fly to areas affected by Odette but decided to push back her flight to be able to attend the forum online.

In a statement issued after the forum, Robredo took the blame for her faulty internet connection.

"I apologize for the bad connectivity during the forum. The fault is all mine. Our team tried hard to convince me to cancel all other engagements today, pero pinilit ko pa din hanapan ng paraan to fulfill all our commitments, dahil alam kong naghihintay rin yung mga communities na pupuntahan namin para maihatid yung tulong na pabahay bago magstart ang campaign period," Robredo said.

(I insisted on fulfilling our other commitments because communities are waiting for us, so we could push through with the housing project distribution before the campaign period begins.)

Her office also issued photos where Robredo was seen listening to the forum through a landline as her staff tried to address the poor network connection.

Political analyst Atty. Tony La Viña said that technical problems can happen to anyone, and what mattered is Robredo was still able to deliver both in the forum and the commitments she made to the survivors of Odette.

"The important thing is that they moved it around. They found an office in the airport so that she wouldn't fly and still make it for her commitment. People [are] also waiting for that," La Viña said.

Robredo was joined in the forum by labor leader Ka Leody De Guzman, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso, and Senators Ping Lacson and Manny Pacquiao.

Former Senator Bongbong Marcos was not able to attend the forum due to conflict in his schedule.

• READ: Bongbong Marcos skips KBP Forum due to conflict in schedule

Robredo's spokesman, Barry Gutierrez also posted on social media taking the blame for the bad signal which hampered Robredo from seamlessly baring her platform and answering questions from the KBP panelists.

Gutierrez said being in a "borrowed office is no excuse," and committed to make sure connectivity problems will not be a hindrance in having Robredo heard again.

I feel your pain, guys. We all want to see VP Leni at her best and internet issues get in the way of that. That she was in a borrowed office is no excuse, and if you need someone to blame, blame me. That hate will be motivation to make sure this won't happen again. #LabanLeni2022

— Barry Gutierrez (@barrygutierrez3) February 4, 2022

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