Pacquiao on PNP chief Bato’s free trip to Vegas: ‘Kaysa gumawa ng kalokohan’

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday defended Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa against criticisms over his free trip to Las Vegas, Nevada, to watch the boxing champ’s fight against Jessie Vargas.

“Alam mo kami mga Bisaya, okay lang yan ilibre kaysa gumawa ng kalokohan,” Pacquiao said in an interview with reporters.

“Kaming mga Bisaya, ayaw namin ng kalokohan. Mas mabuti pa manlibre ka. Kesa makakalokohan diyan,” he said.

Dela Rosa and Pacquiao arrived in Manila early Tuesday morning.

At the airport, Dela Rosa admitted that Pacquiao paid for his Vegas trip. 

“Pasalamat ako yung biyahe ko ha, dito yun [pointing to Pacquiao] ... Hindi yun personal na pera ko ... kay Senator Manny yun,” he said.

On the issue of propriety, the PNP chief said: “Bahala na iyang propriety na yan. Ang sa akin e, masaya ako ... libre, ginrab ko ang opportunity, pareho naman kaming galing sa mahirap.”

Meanwhile, Pacquiao was mum on a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who was among those who watched his fight against Vargas.

“Nanood nga si Floyd, inimbitahan natin siya pumunta naman…Di kami  nag-usap after ng fight,” Pacquiao said. — Kathrina Charmaine Alvarez/RSJ/KBK, GMA News