Contributed photo
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao paid a courtesy call to Parañaque City officials led by Mayor Edwin Olivarez as part of his series of consultation with local government unit officials especially on his push for stronger local autonomy and “hybrid Federalism.”
Pacquiao, along with vice presidential candidate Lito Atienza and PDP-Laban Executive Director Ron Munsayac, met with Olivarez, who is the Chair of the Metro Manila Development Council and the members of the Parañaque City council to discuss the importance empowering the LGUs.
On his way to the City Hall, people were seen and heard shouting Pacquiao’s name, most of them lined up the streets to welcome him.
At the city hall compound, employees and supporters jostled to get a glimpse and shake the hands of their idol despite frantic appeals from policemen assigned in the area for them to observe social distancing.
In their discussion, Pacquiao said that his proposal to expand the autonomy of LGUs will be a precursor for his plan to push for a shift on the present presidential-bicameral form of government to federal form.
Pacquiao also told the city officials about his campaign against corruption. He said he would create special courts which would focus on handling graft cases.
“Dapat three to six months masentensyahan na agad,” Pacquiao said.
He said he would also build what he calls an “MP” or Mega Prison which would serve as a detention facility for government officials who arrested and convicted of corruption.
“Magpapatayo ako ng MP o Mega Prison kasi sa dami ng mga corrupt baka hindi sila magkasya sa ordinaryong kulungan,” Pacquiao told Olivarez.
During the visit, Olivarez showed Pacquiao the city’s high-tech emergency operations center which houses live camera feeds that allows them to monitor key areas realtime.
“Dapat ang lahat ng bayan sa buong Pilipinas may ganitong sistema parang sa Korea” Pacquiao observed.