Pacquiao: Bongbong has no moral ascendancy to lead because of Marcos corruption

As corruption issues continue to hound the Marcos family, Senator Manny Pacquiao said former Senator Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has no moral ascendancy to lead the country.

"Kalaban ko siya sa eleksyon na 'to, so sa akin wala, ewan ko 'yung taongbayan.  Alam nila siguro 'yan, matatalino naman ang taongbayan," Pacquiao said a report by GMA's Regional TV Balitang Amianan on Friday.

Both Pacquiao and Marcos, son of the late dictator president Ferdinand Marcos, are contending the presidency.

Asked if he believes "Marcos" was involved in corruption, Pacquiao said: "Para sa akin, ayon sa Supreme Court bakit hindi tayo maniniwala?"

"Wala na tayong gobyerno kung hindi tayo maniniwala sa desisyon ng Supreme Court," he added.

More than P171 billion worth of the ill-gotten wealth stolen from the country's coffers during the Marcos years have been recovered, according to the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) report for 2017.

An earlier GMA News Online report showed that in at least three decisions, the High Tribunal already has forfeited in favor of the government some of the Marcoses' wealth. The High Tribunal also has ruled that the government can still recover other assets in a 25-year-old forfeiture case from where these rulings emanate.

GMA News has reached out to the camp of Marcos for its side.

Pacquiao and his team barnstormed Nueva Ecija on Friday to woo votes in the May 2022 elections.

Pacquiao was also asked to comment on the suggestion of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi for the candidates to limit motorcades amid the high oil prices.

The former boxing champion replied that Cusi should instead attend to the energy supply concerns of the country and find ways to help Filipinos cope with the spiraling oil prices.—LDF, GMA News