Pacquiao says fight with Spence to proceed despite Duterte remarks

Senator Manny Pacquiao's boxing match against Errol Spence Jr. will push through in August, the lawmaker said on Thursday night.

In a statement after President Rodrigo Duterte said that he should instead focus on his tasks as a lawmaker, Pacquiao said he would leave for the US in the coming weekend.

“Tuloy ang aking laban at nakatakda akong umalis ngayong weekend para bigyan ng dangal ang ating bansa. Masaya ako kapag nagkakaisa ang lahat ng Pilipino para manood ng bawat laban ko,” Pacquiao said.

[My fight will push through and I am scheduled to leave this weekend to give honor to our country. I am glad that the Filipinos are being united every time I fight for the country.]

At the inauguration on LRT-2 East Extension Project, Duterte asked why Pacquiao backed out of a fight, indicating that the senator knew that he would be finished politically if he lost.

Duterte said Pacquiao should focus on his job as a lawmaker.

"Bakit ngayon ka lang nagsalita at bakit umatras ka dun sa boxing fight? Kasi alam mo pag matalo ka, you are a goner. Those are your inconsistencies,” Duterte said.

“Sit in Congress, finish and find out corruption. If not, you are a shit. A shit is a shit. Magtrabaho ka, do not go elsewhere... 'Wag kang pa-absent-absent," he added.

Pacquiao said the government should prioritize its response to the latest Taal Volcano eruption, not quarrels.

“Sa gitna ng napipintong pagputok ng Taal Volcano, tulong at solusyon ang hinahanap ng ating mga kababayan. Hindi away. May krisis po, ito ang pagtuunan natin ng pansin ngayon,” Pacquiao said.

(In the midst of the Taal Volcano eruption, our countrymen needs help and solution to this not arguments. We have a crisis at hand, let us focus our attention on this.)

In his recent public addresses, Duterte repeatedly hit Pacquiao over the latter’s criticisms about the president’s stance on the West Philippine Sea and the worsening of corruption under the current administration. —NB, GMA News