Lacson says Pacquiao to bare gov’t corruption before heading to US
Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao. (Albert Calvelo/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao is planning to reveal proof of alleged corruption in the government that “reaches the top” before he heads to the United States to train for his August boxing match, Senator Panfilo Lacson said Friday.
Lacson said he and Senate President Vicente Sotto III met with Pacquiao Thursday, where the three talked about the growing rift between the boxer-turned-politician and President Rodrigo Duterte.
“Sabi niya ‘Alam mo boss, marami akong balak.’..Mukhang desidido siya. Sabi niya nga ‘Talagang kumpleto ako, hindi ako magsasalita nang wala’,” Lacson said in an interview on Teleradyo.
(He said ‘You know, boss, I have a lot planned…’ It looks like he’s determined. He said ‘I have complete proof, I would not have said anything if I have nothing.’)
“At sabi niya, abot daw hanggang itaas yung kanyang hawak,” he added, but said he and Sotto no longer pressed Pacquiao for details.
(He also said he has proof that reaches the top.)
“Sabi niya ‘Bago ako umalis ng Sabado, meron akong ibabahagi sa mga media’,” Lacson further said.
(He said ‘Before I leave on Saturday, I will share something with the media.’)
Pacquiao will be flying to Los Angeles this Saturday to continue his training for his August 21 fight with two-belt champion Errol Spence.
According to Lacson, he advised Pacquiao to carefully sift through the documents being sent to him.
“Sabi ko ‘pero medyo tignan mo ring mabuti kung ano yung hinahawakan mo, mahirap na baka mapasukan ka ng fake na ebidensya o dokumento, ang balik niyan sayo matindi’,” he told the boxing champ.
(I said ‘but you should carefully assess the proof you have on hand, fake evidence or documents may slip past through you, it may backfire.)
Lacson said it was Pacquiao who requested to meet the two veteran senators.
“May usapang pulitika rin doon at bilang mga kapwa senador, pinaguusapan namin ano yung way forward. Maganda naman yung naging usapan,” Lacson said.
(We talked about politics and as fellow senators, we talked about ways forward. It was a good discussion.)
“Pero on the side, yung nag-dominate pa ng paguusap, yung kanyang sinasabing mga issue ng corruption, binanggit niya yung mga ahensya,” he added, but said he will leave it to Pacquiao to disclose which agencies.
(But on the side, the topic that dominated our meeting is the corruption issue Pacquiao is raising, he also mentioned the name of the agencies.)
Pacquiao’s possible revelation of alleged corruption in several government agencies comes after he was challenged by the President to reveal corrupt officials under the current administration.
