On social media video, Pacquiao rails vs. corruption in gov't

Senator Manny Pacquiao was caught on video criticizing the worsening corruption in government in the Duterte's administration as the seeming rift between him and the president hogged the headlines.

In a video from Leader News Philippines, the senator fiercely said: "Sa totoo lang, ngayon talaga kung ano yung korupsyon sa past administration, yung kay PNoy (former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III), mas doble ngayon doble o sobra pa, maniwala ka sa akin. Sabi ko di ko makakain yang ginagawa ng mga ito."

(The truth is the corruption we experienced in the past administration, during PNoy's time, it doubled, worsened, believe me. I told myself, I cannot stomach this practice.)

In Sandra Aguinaldo's "24 Oras" report, they tried to reach Pacquiao's office regarding the video but have yet to receive a reply.

Based on a video posted by the Pacquiao Public Information Office Facebook page, the senator hoped that the next Philippine leader can solve this issue.

"Ang gripo daming tagas, daming tagas, dapat ayusin. Ang ibig kong sabihin, maraming korupsyon ang iba ibang ahensya ng gobyerno," Pacquiao stressed.

(This needs a lot of fixing. What I mean is there is a lot of corruption in the government agencies.)

"Please maawa tayo sa sambayanang Pilipino. Ang pangarap ko na ang susunod na lider sa bansa natin na ito dapat ang gawin," he further pointed out.

(Please have mercy on our countrymen. My dream is for our next leader to address this.)

Pacquaio and Duterte locked horns after the President called out the senator for making allegations on the  proliferation of irregularities in government officers.

On a Monday taped briefing, Duterte, head of PDP-Laban, dared his partymate Pacquiao to identify the government offices that are hounded by corruption.

Subsequently, Pacquiao accepted the challenge, even citing the alleged overpricing of COVID-19 equipment procured by the Department of Health.

For his part, presidential spokesman Harry Roque questioned the timing of Pacquiao's recent statements against the health department.—LDF, GMA News