Palace: Pacquiao free to expose corruption

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Manny Pacquiao is free to release materials that would prove his allegations about supposed corruption in government, Malacañang said yesterday.

“Let us just allow Senator Pacquiao whatever he wants to expose. It’s a free country,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said.

Pacquiao has criticized alleged corruption under the administration, prompting President Duterte to challenge him to name the agencies and officials involved in irregularities.

Pacquiao, who used to be a close ally of the President, identified the health, social welfare, energy and environment departments as among the state entities with anomalies.

Malacañang has downplayed Pacquiao’s allegations saying they are similar to ‘watusi’ or dancing firecrackers rather than an atomic bomb.

In response, the boxer-turned-senator promised to release videos and audio clips that would prove the corruption in some state agencies.

Roque, nevertheless, wished Pacquiao luck on his next boxing bout. Pacquiao is now in the US to prepare for his match with undefeated American boxer Errol Spence Jr. in Las Vegas on Aug. 21.

“For now, we are one with them, we are with the entire Filipino nation in wishing him good luck on his upcoming fight,” Roque said.

Duterte recently described Pacquiao as “punch-drunk” for claiming that some P10 billion in aid for sectors affected by pandemic-related restrictions is missing.

He has also raised a tax evasion complaint against Pacquiao and reminded the senator that cheating the government is a form of corruption.

Pacquiao retorted and asked Duterte not to be angry with him, saying he was just helping him curb corruption.