No one, except God, could change President Rodrigo Duterte, Senator Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday as he sought for understanding and continued support for his longtime friend.
Pacquiao came to Duterte’s defense, following criticisms over his harsh remark against US President Barack Obama that led to the cancellation of their bilateral meeting Tuesday.
“Ang Pangulo natin, humingi naman sya ng apology sa mga nasabi nya, tao lang din tayo nagkakakamali,” the senator said when sought for comment.
“Alam mo naman ang Pangulo natin dahil sa problema ng ating bansa, intindihin natin yan dahil kung ikaw ba naman… sa loob ng pamilya mo, maraming problema, marami kang inaasikaso minsan, hindi natin maiiwasan yung mag react kaagad,” he said.
(Our President has apologized for what he had said, we are only humans who make mistakes.
You know, we should understand our President because [he faces] all the problems of the country…just think, if you are faced with many problems in your family, and at the same time, you are busy with other things, then you will tend to react immediately.)
READ: Duterte expresses regret over Obama profane comment
If the people want change, then they should unite behind Duterte, Pacquiao said.
Asked if the President should now refrain from cursing, the senator said this has been Duterte’s style from the very start.
“Hindi natin sya pwedeng pangunahan at hayaan natin kung ang Panginoon magbigay sa kanya ng wisdom knowledge to change his style. Anyway yung dapat suporta natin hindi magbago , yung pagkakaisa natin hindi magbabago para sa pagbabago ng ating bansa,” he said.
“Ang hinahanggan ko rin lang sa ating Pangulo na alam nya ang pagkakamali at nagso-sorry sya. So yun yun e. May mga ibang leaders natin na kahit nagkakamali e hindi tumatanggap ng kamalian.”
(We can’t preempt him and we should let the Lord give him wisdom and knowledge to change his style. Anyway, our support for him must not falter, our unity must remain in the name of change for our country.
What I admire about our President is that he acknowledges his mistakes and he says sorry. That’s it. There are other leaders who make mistakes and don’t own up to them.)
Asked then if it would now be up to God to change Duterte, Pacquiao answered yes.
“Oo. Hayaan natin ang Panginoon na magbago sa kanila. Hindi tayo ang tao na magbago sa tao,” he added.
(Yes. Let God change him. We, as humans, are not in the position to try to change other humans.)
Pacquiao said he and Duterte have been close friends ever since and his support for him has become stronger. CDG
READ: Duterte must adjust eventually — Gordon