Pacquiao sends well wishes to Robredo on her 57th bday

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Senator Manny Pacquiao on Friday sent his well wishes to fellow presidential candidate Vice President Leni Robredo, ahead of the latter's 57th birthday this Saturday.

"Eleksyon lang ito, at ang dalangin ko marami pang kaarawan ang darating. Panginoon ang laging mag-iingat sa kaniya, bigyan siya ng malakas na pangangatawan at kaalaman ng Panginoon, wisdom, knowledge and understanding be upon her. Enjoy your birthday celebration," Pacquiao said at a media briefing here.

(This is just the elections. I wish her more birthdays to come. The Lord will always take care of her. I pray He will give her strength and wisdom from above.)

Asked by reporters if he sees Robredo as a friend or a rival in the 2022 elections, Pacquiao said he is friends with the Vice President.

"Ako kaibigan ko si Leni... talagang nag-uusap naman kami, wala kaming samaan ng loob at ang aming ipinaglalaban... May ipinaglalaban siya, may ipinaglalaban din ako, para ito sa kabutihan ng bansa," he said.

(Leni is my friend. We talk, we do not have grudges. She has her own cause, I have my own cause for the good of the country.)

Pacquiao, however, did not totally dismiss criticisms hurled against Robredo by her "detractors," but discouraged attacks without basis.

"At least kung may ginawa siya, baka nagsasabi ng totoo. Pero kung wala naman siyang ginawa tapos titirahin mo, sisiraan mo, pangit naman ang manira. Hindi maganda 'yang maninira ka, na magsasabi ka ng kung anu-anong sinasabi mo tapos hindi naman totoo," the boxing icon said.

(If she did something, perhaps her critics are saying the truth. But if she did nothing, then you will attack and defame her, that is inappropriate. It is not good to slander, to say just anything that is not true.) — RSJ, GMA News