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Friday, March 29, 2024

Pacquiao calls Duterte’s dare, snipes at DOH

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Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday accepted the challenge of President Rodrigo Duterte to identify corrupt government agencies or, failing that, the former would tell the people not to vote for him in next year’s elections.

“I accept the challenge of President Rodrigo Duterte. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to help him and give him information for his anti-corruption campaign,” Pacquiao said in Filipino.

On corrupt agencies, Pacquiao told the President to start with the Department of Health amid its work during the coronavirus pandemic.

READ: Duque says DOH ready for probe led by Pacquiao

“Let us look into all their procurement — from rapid test kits, PPE, masks and others,” he said.

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The senator questioned Health Secretary Francisco Duque if he could show his agency’s total expenses in the fight against COVID-19.

“Where did the money for the pandemic go?” he asked. “Are you prepared, Sec. Francisco Duque, to show the entire spending of the DOH?”

The President, 76, slammed Pacquiao, 42, his partymate and acting president of the ruling PDP-Laban, for saying that his administration was three times more corrupt than the previous administration of President Benigno Aquino III, who died recently.

“So, I am challenging him: Point (out to me) those offices that are corrupt. And let me take care of it. Within one week, I will do something,” added Duterte, the party’s chairman, on Monday night.

The boxing champion-turned politician, who is eyeing the presidency in 2022, told the President he could not stand two things in his life –”I am not corrupt. I am not a liar.”

With due respect, Pacquiao told the President he’s not a liar.

Admitting he had committed wrongdoings in his life, Pacquiao however stressed he had corrected them.

The senator stressed it was the President himself who said in his remarks last October 27, 2020 that corruption cases in the government surged.

In his own words, Pacquiao said the President noted: “I will concentrate the last remaining years of my term fighting corruption because until now, it’s still becoming stronger.”

“Mr. President, I feel the same way,” said Pacquiao.

According to Pacquiao, it’s sad that he and the President would argue on the issue of corruption because the country needed leaders to fight it.

The rift between Duterte and Pacquiao began in December when Pacquiao was “suddenly” elected as acting president in a Thanksgiving party organized by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, in which President Rodrigo Duterte, the party chair, was not invited, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi said.

“It surprised us the following morning, there was a change in leadership. The presidency was turned over to Senator Manny. We have nothing against it,” said Cusi, the vice-chairman of PDP-Laban.

Cusi said he met with Pimentel in February, when the senator told him the position was given to Pacquiao “for exposure because I believe he has plans to run for higher office.”

Pimentel, executive vice chairman and former president of PDP-Laban, cited party rules, saying the executive vice president – who was Pacquiao at the time — succeeds the president in the event of a vacancy.

“The party president gave way, hence EVP became president under party succession rules. Automatic succession doesn’t need permission to happen,” Pimentel said in a statement.

Cusi, however, said there “might be an election” on July 17, with speculation swirling that Pacquiao would be unseated and booted out from PDP-Laban by then.

PDP-Laban member and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles earlier said the party should ratify officials in an acting position.

Reacting to the growing controversy between Duterte and Pacquiao, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday: “Anything is possible in politics.”

“I think it’s rather obvious that the relationship between the President and Sen. Pacquiao is not as cordial as it was,” said Roque.

Duterte’s Monday comments were the latest chapter in a surprise war of words between him and Pacquiao, who is seen as being among his strongest backers and a possible successor when his 6-year term expires June next year.

Using an expletive in his strongest language yet against Pacquiao, Duterte said if he did not reveal corruption, he would be “playing politics” and pledged to campaign against him next year.

In related developments, Pimentel said Cusi should spend more of his time on the power/energy shortage issues facing the country at the moment.

“Politics should take a backseat. We are in a pandemic when energy needs are very critical,” stressed Pimentel.

For instance, Pimentel said the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine needed negative-70 Celsius storage. “Imagine the energy needed to achieve that!” he said.

Due to this, consistent power supply was required, the senator noted.

Pimentel was responding to the claims of Cusi that Duterte, the party’s national chairman, and some party members were not aware and consulted when Pacquiao was elected as the party’s president last December.

The senator, who comes from Mindanao like Duterte and Pacquiao, said the two party stalwarts should be allowed to settle their issues privately.

In a text message to GMA News Online, Pimentel said Pacquiao and Duterte “should meet” when asked for comment on the President’s fresh tirade against the boxing icon-turned-lawmaker on Monday night.

“Allow us to settle the internal issues within the Party, internally and privately,” Pimentel said when asked if he was willing to facilitate the meeting between Pacquiao and Duterte.

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