Duterte Lashes Out At Pacquiao For Saying His Administration Much More Corrupt

President Duterte on Monday night, June 28, dared Sen. Manny Pacquiao to identify the corrupt agencies and officials in his administration or he will expose the lawmaker as a liar.

Duterte was reacting to Pacquiao’s previous statement that he will declare war against corruption should he decide to run for president in the 2022 national elections.

During the meeting of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Duterte claimed that Pacquiao had branded the current administration to be twice or thrice more corrupt than previous administrations.

In a radio interview with Ted Failon and DJ Chacha on June 22, Pacquiao stated that corruption in the country is “systematic” and “bigger than illegal drugs,”  which is the current focus of the Duterte administration.

“Kung sakaling dumating ‘yung time na makapagdesisyon ako…maniwala ka sa akin, ‘yan ang advocacy ko ‘yung declaring war against corruption,” Pacquiao said.

The Chief Executive challenged Pacquiao to provide a list of corrupt government agencies and officials and he will do something about it within one week.

“I’m challenging him (Pacquiao), ituro mo ang opisinang corrupt at ako na ang bahala within one week may gawin ako,” Duterte dared.

“Wala ka namang sinabi all these years puro ka praises nang praises sa akin. Tapos ngayon sabihin mo, corrupt. Saang korapsyon? Anong opisina? Kasi sa pagkaalaman ko, wala,” he said.

Duterte explained that every administration would have a share of the problem of corruption in the Philippines.

He also advised Pacquiao to not ever think that he could solve the problem of corruption in the country once he becomes president and that he had those committing irregularities removed from government.

“Mayroon marami na pero napaalis na. Naunahan na kita… Do not ever think that if you will win as a president na wala ng corruption dito sa Pilipinas,” he said.

With Pacquiao’s plan to give everybody houses in six years when he becomes president, Duterte said “good luck na lang.”

“You must be dreaming,” he told the senator.

He pressed Pacquiao to go to “Congress” and “start talking” about the corruption that he is claiming to be systematic in the country. Duterte wrongfully addressed the senator as a congressman.

“You have the privilege of not being arrested when you say it inside the halls of Congress because as a matter of privilege you cannot be questioned anywhere,” he said.

“It is your duty as a congressman to go to Congress and start to talk. I am challenging you or else talagang ang sabi nga nila, namumulitika ka lang,” he said.

He also urged the public to join Pacquiao in exposing corrupt officials as he will be transparent in investigating them.

“Sabayan ninyo na si Pacquiao to expose all of these. You have a partner in this crusade. Join Pacquiao, sabayan ninyo, sabihin niyo ‘yung mga tao na corrupt at anong opisina and I will do something about it immediately,” he said.

Duterte cautioned that if Pacquiao fails to deliver, he will campaign against the senator in next year’s elections as he is not doing his duty as a lawmaker.

“I put you on notice na isasabi ko lahat at kakalabanin kita sa panahon ng eleksyon. Kapag hindi, you will be just another son of a bitch playing politics,” he added.

The Chief Executive also warned that he will tell the Filipino people to not vote for the senator in the 2022 polls because “he is a liar.”

“Do it, because if not, I will just tell the people, ‘Do not vote for Pacquiao because he is a liar.’ Saka parang carabao na kung saan bibirahin, pupunta doon,” he said.

He also noted that he was not questioning the ability and the intellectual capacity of the boxer-turned senator.

“Kapag hindi mo nagawa ‘yan, aaraw-arawin kita, I will expose you as a liar,” he said.

“At ‘yung buhay mo, kilala naman kita noon pa. Then we should start also because you are going for public office, presidency, everybody should know,” he said.