Duterte to Pacquiao: Sit in Congress, 'wag pa-absent-absent

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday called out Senator Manny Pacquiao to focus on his work in Congress after the lawmaker claimed that corruption has worsened under the Duterte administration.

Duterte said Pacquiao should not be absent in the Senate especially after his allegation that corruption had gotten worse.

Pacquiao, the only eight-division world boxing champion, is scheduled to fight Errol Spence Jr. in August. He is slated to leave to train in the US this coming weekend.

"I expect him to sit in Congress, do not go anywhere finish and find out the corruption that you are talking about. Eh, kung mag-report ka lang dalawang... isang buwan, then you are a shit," Duterte said. 

[If you will report to work just a few times in a month, then you are shit.] 

"Magtrabaho ka, hiningi mo yan, nandyan yung mga papel, start investigatying, do not go elsewhere... Comply first with your duty as a senator. Tapusin mo yan, nandyan yung mga papeles. 'Wag kang pa-absent-absent," he added.

[Work. You asked for this. The documents are there. Start investigating and do not go wlsewhere. Comply first with your duty as a senator. Finish, the papers are there. Do be an absentee.]

Duterte, who earlier in his term said he wanted Pacquiao to be president, said a boxing champion wouldn't necessarily be a champion in politics. 

He asked Pacquiao why he backed out of a fight.

“Kasi alam mo pag matalo ka, you are a goner. Those are your inconsistencies,” Duterte said.

[Because you know you'd be a goner if you lose.]

Duterte cleared Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, whom Pacquiao named as one who had to answer on how the government spent its pandemic funds, of any wrongdoing.

"So, he’s blabbering his mouth, it is over. I am waiting for his word for the next department that he would choose to investigate," Duterte said.

Duterte then echoed presidential spokesperson Harry Roque that Pacquiao was only alleging corruption because the Senator grew impatient in getting the President's endorsement for 2022 polls.

The President said the ruling party PDP-Laban, the party he chairs, is yet to decide on its Presidential bet.

"Actually si Inday, wala pa. We were , nirendahan namin 'yung kabayo namin because we are the... nandyan si Pimentel, siya, and others," Duterte said, referring to his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte whom he fondly calls Inday and PDP-Laban stalwart/Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III.

[There's Inday...but we are yet to decide on winning horse because he is there, Pimentel is there, and others.]

"But suddenly, he could not maybe wait for the announcement that PDP-Laban will go for him, ayun nag wala nagsabi corruption dito, corruption doon," he added.

[Senator Pacquiao could not wait for PDP-Laban to go for him so he went beserk and alleged corruption everywhere.]

It was in December 2020 when Pacquiao urged his PDP-Laban party-mates to shun corruption, a speech made by Pacquiao during the same event that the lawmaker was catapulted as acting PDP-Laban President.

It was in June this year that the President dared Pacquiao to present proof that corruption worsened under the Duterte administration.

Pacquiao countered that it was no less than President Duterte who said in a speech in October 2020 that corruption in government is worsening. —NB, GMA News