MANILA – President Rodrigo Roa Duterte challenged Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday to name corrupt agencies and officials, or otherwise he will campaign against him in the 2022 elections.
“So I’m challenging him, ituro mo opisina na corrupt at ako na bahala within one week, may gawin ako. Maglista ka Pacquiao at sinasabi mo two times kaming corrupt, ilista mo yun mga tao at opisina na dapat inilista mo pa noon at ibigay mo sa akin (name the corrupt office and I will do something within one week. You make a list Pacquiao and you said we’re two times corrupt, list those people and offices that you should have listed before and give them to me),” Duterte said in his Talk to the People.
In response to speculations that the world boxing champion is eyeing the presidency in 2022, Duterte said Pacquiao should prove that he is more than just a politician.
“If you fail to do that, I will campaign against you, because you are not doing your duty. Do it, because if not, I will just tell the people, do not vote for Manny Pacquiao because he is a liar,” Duterte said.
He stated that the Department of Public Works and Highway “really had notoriety” for corruption prior his presidency.
“Pero wala ako nakita ngayon na corrupt (I find no corrupt now),” he said. “Every administration will have a share the problem of corruption. Do not ever think that if you will win as president na wala nang corruption dito sa Pilipinas (that corruption will be eliminated in the Philippines.”
He urged everyone to join Pacquiao if they have knowledge about corrupt government officials and offices.
“Yan din ang payo ko sa mga Pilipino, kung may alam kayo magsabi kayo (That is also my advice to the Filipino, if you have information, let me know), and I will be transparent, I will investigate them,” he said.
Many government officials and staff, according to Duterte, have been charged with corruption before the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan.
According to him, his government’s anti-corruption campaign has resulted in the removal of at least 73 immigration employees.
“Gaya ng sa Customs, masakit sa akin dahil meron 37 years in the service pero (Like in the Customs, it’s painful to me because there is someone who are 37 years in the service already but) the temptation to go to graft, is very strong,” Duterte said.
When Duterte ran for president in 2016, he promised to eradicate corruption, illegal drugs, and criminals, and he won by 6 million votes.
Many have urged the country’s first Mindanao leader to run for vice president in the 2022 elections, which he has stated “would be dependent” on the presidential candidate he supports.
“It [running for vice president] is not at all a bad idea and if there is a space for me there, siguro, pero ako walang (maybe, but I have no) space, everybody is crowding up wanting to be vice president, sila na lang muna kasi tapos na ako (I’ll leave it to them because I’m done),” he said.
