Pacquiao says he's not attacking Duterte but helping him fight corruption

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday said he is not attacking President Rodrigo Duterte when he aired his concerns about alleged corruption in the government, but was in fact helping him in his advocacy to clean the government.

“I'm not attacking the President, baka mali ang perception nila, but I'm helping the President kasi ang advocacy niya, kung ang advocacy niya is against corruption, katulong niya ako,” Pacquiao said in a radio interview.

(I'm not attacking the President. They may have a different perception but I’m actually helping the President because I am one with him in this advocacy.)

Pacquiao said he has received various reports on corruption but did not reveal it as this may be misconstrued as an insult to Duterte.

“Actually, matagal na, maraming nagbibigay sa akin ng issue ng corruption, mga papers. Ayaw ko lang malabas kasi parang baka maging insulto sa Pangulo na nag-iimbestiga ako. ‘Yung mga tao lang na siguro nagtiwala sa akin binibigay sa akin ang ebidensya, nagsusumbong sa akin,” he said.

(Actually, there are reports given to me about alleged corruption in some agencies. I just don’t want to publicize them because my investigation might be seen as an insult against to the President.)

Pacquiao likewise said he sees Duterte’s latest challenge as an “opportunity” to work with him in his fight against corruption in the government.

“Sana hindi siya magalit sa akin kung ang kampanya n’ya laban sa korapsyon, tinutulungan ko lang s’ya,” he added.

(I hope he will not get mad at me because I am just helping him in his campaign against corruption.)

Duterte, in his weekly public briefing last Monday night, called out Pacquiao for criticizing the administration for the alleged proliferation of graft under his watch.

The chief executive dared him to name government offices that were allegedly involved in corruption.

The following day, Pacquiao accepted Duterte’s challenge by citing the alleged overpricing of COVID-19-related equipment procured by the Department of Health (DOH).

Malacañang, meanwhile, questioned the timing of Pacquiao’s allegations. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque pointed out that the alleged overpricing of COVID-19-related equipment was already discussed in a Senate hearing, but Pacquiao did not ask anything related to these allegations.

Denying there is corruption in the DOH, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Thursday said they have already submitted its budget utilization reports to Pacquiao. —KBK, GMA News