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Senator Manny Pacquiao believes that former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr., one of his rivals in the presidential race, lacks the moral ascendancy to lead the country owing to his conviction for a tax-related case.
In an interview with reporters during a sortie in Nueva Ecija, Pacquiao criticized voters who knowingly support candidates with blemished records or are known for being corrupt.
“Those who will vote for thieves running for office are the real stupid persons. I am not referring to a particular candidate but to all candidates, from the national down to the local level who are corrupt,” he said on Friday.
READ: Pacquiao: Filipinos shouldn’t vote for Isko, Marcos due to corruption issues
Pacquiao was responding to critics belittling his intelligence being a former boxing champion-turned-senator and presidential candidate.
Asked if he believes that Marcos Jr. has the right or moral ascendancy to be president, the presidential bet said: “For me, since I am also a candidate, I can say he has none. I don’t know about the people, I think they are aware of it. The people are intelligent.”
Marcos Jr. was convicted for not filing his income tax returns in the 1980s when he was vice governor and later governor of Ilocos Norte.
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