Why not Isko or Marcos Jr.? Pacquiao says they have corruption issues

Presidential aspirant and senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday said "corruption issues" should make the voters reject the bids of Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and former senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr for the presidency in Eleksyon 2022. 

“May corruption issue (He has corruption issue),” Pacquiao said when asked by TV host Boy Abunda on Friday why the people should not vote for Moreno.

Asked the same question about Marcos, the former boxing champion said, “May bahid ng corruption, may issue ng corruption. Alam mo naman ang corruption sa ating bansa eh. Talagang 'yan ang dahilan kung bakit kami naghirap,” Pacquiao said of Marcos.

(He has corruption issues. You know corruption in our country. That is really the reason why we suffer.)

As for Vice President Leni Robredo and Senator Panfilo Lacson, Pacquiao replied, "Hindi ko alam (I don't know)."

Reactions

Moreno and Marcos Jr however refused to directly address Pacquiao's claim.

“Hindi natin makakalimutan ang karangalan na binigay sa ating bansa ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao sa mundo ng boksing. Maraming Salamat sa dangal na binigay ninyo sa mundo ng boxing. May God bless you!” Moreno told GMA News Online.

The camp of Marcos Jr meanwhile, would rather ignore the senator's statement.

“Sometimes there are statements that are better left ignored," Marcos Jr's spokesperson and chief of staff Atty. Vic Rodriguez told GMA News Online on Saturday.

Hardship

Pacquiao said he deserves the vote of the people because being poor once, he knows how to solve their problems.

He got emotional upon sharing their hardship before he became successful in boxing.

“Dumanas kami sa hirap. Nagutom kami. Tubig lang inumin namin para maka-survive sa isang araw. Yan yung desire ko sa puso ko na gusto kong tulungan ang mahihirap na tao dahil dumanas ako ng walang pagkain sa isang araw,” the senator said teary-eyed.

(We went through hardship. We were hungry. We only had water to survive a day. That is my desire, in my heart — I want to help the poor because I experienced hunger myself.)

Pacquiao said he saw the realities and the problems of the country, which he claimed he can resolve once he wins the presidency in Eleksyon 2022. —LDF/KG, GMA News