Pacquiao thinks Duterte unaware, ‘misinformed’ on gov’t corruption

MANILA, Philippines —  Senator Manny Pacquiao believes President Rodrigo Duterte may be clueless or “misinformed” on the alleged corruption that the senator himself disclosed on Saturday.

“Sa tingin ko po wala pong alam ang Pangulo dyan, at na misinformed din ang Pangulo,” Pacquiao said in an online interview.

(I think,  the President doesn’t know about this and he was also misinformed.)

“Ang  nagtataka nga ako bakit nagagalit sa akin ang Pangulo e tumutulong lang ako para ma expose ang korapsyon sa ating bansa.”

(That’s why I’m wondering why the President  is angry at men  when I’m just helping to expose the corruption in our country)

Pacquiao earlier disclosed the alleged corruption in at least three agencies of government— the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Health  (DOH), and the Department of  Energy (DOE).

At the DSWD, the senator claimed P10. 4 billion in Social Amelioration Program funds intended for beneficiaries affected by the pandemic went “missing.”

He also accused the DOH of buying medicines nearing expiration dates.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao said the DOE, without bidding, awarded a contract to the Independent Electricity Market Operator of the Philippines (IEMOP) which only had P7,000 in paid-up capital.

“Ibinigay sa IEMOP ang kontrata ng hindi man lamang dumaan sa bidding,” he said.

“Mula sa 7,000 paid-up capital ay naging instant billion peso company ang IEMOP sa loob lamang po ng isang taon.”

(The contract was awarded to  IEMOP without bidding. From a P7,000 paid-up capital, IEMOP became an instant billion peso company within just one year)

Pacquiao made the revelations in response to Duterte’s earlier challenge that he proves his allegations of corruption in government.

READ: Pacquiao accepts Duterte dare, names Duque-led DOH

/MUF