President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Senator Manny Pacquiao (Presidential photo)
MANILA – Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao badmouthing President Rodrigo Duterte is a “bad strategy,” Malacañang said Thursday.
In a virtual presser, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Pacquiao would not gain more support from the public after taking a swipe at the supposedly rampant corruption in government under Duterte’s watch.
“Politika po iyan. Alam naman nating lahat na gustong tumakbong presidente ni Senator Pacquiao. Sa akin po, hindi tamang istratehiya iyan kasi napakatagal naman pong nagsama ni Senator Pacquiao at ni Presidente (It’s all about politics. We all know that Senator Pacquiao wants to run for president. For me, that is not a good strategy because he had a good relationship with the President),” Roque said.
Pacquiao earned Duterte’s ire after reportedly claiming that corruption in government is getting worse.
Duterte, in a pre-recorded Talk to the People on Monday night, challenged Pacquiao to name corrupt public officials within one week, or else he would campaign against the latter amid reports that the senator has plans to run for president in 2022.
Roque said Pacquiao should have waited for Duterte’s announcement of the administration’s presidential candidate next year, given that the solon is one of the personalities being considered by the President.
“At sa ngayon po, wala pa naman pong pinapangalanan pang tao ang Presidente na ie-endorso niya para maging presidente sa susunod na halalan (As of now, the President has yet to name the person he would endorse as presidential candidate for the next elections),” he said. “Hindi ko po alam kung bakit hindi nakapaghintay si Senator Manny Pacquiao (I don’t know why Pacquiao did not wait for it).”
Name corrupt officials before leaving PH
Following Duterte’s challenge, Pacquiao named the Department of Health (DOH) as the first government agency that is allegedly plagued with corruption.
He said the DOH should be investigated over the purchase of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) rapid test kits, personal protective equipment for health care workers, and face masks.
Responding to Pacquiao’s claim, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Tuesday his office “has always been transparent” about fund use.
Roque once again came to Duque’s defense, saying Pacquiao should name other corrupt government agencies as the DOH has been absolved of corruption allegations.
He challenged Pacquiao, who is set to fly to the United States within the week for his bout with undefeated World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation welterweight Errol Spence Jr. in August, to name corrupt officials before he leaves the country.
“So, sana nga po, bago man umalis si Senator Pacquiao eh makapagsabi siya kung sino talaga ang dapat maimbestigahan dahil ang sabi ni Presidente, hindi po niya tino-tolerate ang korapsyon (We hope that before Senator Pacquiao leaves, he would be able to identify who should be investigated because the President said he does not tolerate corruption),” Roque said.
He added that Pacquiao should substantiate his claim against corrupt government officials.
“Pero kinakailangan sabihin niya kung saan yung korapsyon, anong ahensiya iyan at ano ang ebidensiya niya (He should say where corruption is rampant and which agency is involved. He also has to present evidence),” Roque said. (PNA)
