Pacquiao may face expulsion after ‘character assassination’ vs Duterte — Cusi

Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and Senator Manny Pacquiao. FILE PHOTOS / INQUIRER / SENATE PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao may possibly face expulsion from the PDP-Laban following his “character assassination” against party chairman President Rodrigo Duterte, according to expelled PDP-Laban vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

“Possibility of his [Pacquiao] being expelled? Yes. Because you’re accusing the chairman of the party of ill-doings that you cannot even prove,” Cusi said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel on Tuesday.

He was asked about the possibility of Pacquiao being expelled from the party during the meeting on July 17, following the senator’s accusations of government corruption under the Duterte administration.

“Parang character assassination po yan [It’s like character assassination]. What if I accuse him and then suddenly I just leave and go to my province and sleep?” Cusi went on.

Before flying to the United States to train for his August boxing match, Pacquiao bared several corruption claims against several government agencies, including the Department of Energy.

“In-accuse kami of corruption at DOE, where’s the corruption in DOE? Kami nga po ang naghahabol dun sa mga oligarchs na ayaw sumunod sa gobyerno. Kami na nga po ang hinaharass tapos sasama pa siya mang-haras sa mga yun. Di naman po tama yung ganon,” the energy secretary said.

(We are being accused of corruption, where’s the corruption in DOE. We are actually the ones running after oligarchs that do not comply with government policies. We are the ones being harassed and then he will join them in harassing us? That’s not right.)

Pacquiao however, had earlier clarified that he is not trying to attack the President after criticizing government corruption under the current administration.

The senator said he is helping the Chief Executive crack down on corrupt officials.

JPV