Pacquiao: Filipinos shouldn't vote for Bongbong, Isko due to 'corruption issues'

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos should not vote for presidential aspirants Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso because of corruption issues linked to them, Sen. Manny Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao, in an interview with television host Boy Abunda aired on Friday, was asked to give reasons why Filipinos should not vote for other presidential candidates in the May polls. 

His responses were:

• On Moreno: “May corruption issue” (Has corruption issue)
• On Sen. Panfilo Lacson: “Hindi ko alam” (I don’t know)
• On Vice President Leni Robredo: “Hindi ko alam” (I don’t know)
• On Marcos: “May bahid ng corruption. May issue ng corruption. Alam mo naman ang corruption sa ating ang dahilan bakit tayo naghirap.” (Has corruption issue. You know that corruption is the reason why the country is suffering.)

In 2014, five barangay chairpersons from the City of Manila filed a plunder complaint before the Office of the Ombundsman against then-Vice Mayor Domagoso and several local executives for allegedly pocketing over P70 million in real property taxes.

Meanwhile, the family of Marcos, led by late dictator Ferdinand Sr., and his cronies supposedly stole P530 billion from state coffers. The Presidential Commission on Good Government has so far recovered at least P174 billion of the Marcos ill-gotten wealth. Over 200 cases related to the Marcos wealth remain pending in courts.

In 2016, youth group iBalik ang Bilyones ng Mamamayan filed a plunder and graft complaint against Marcos over his alleged involvement in the pork barrel scam.

One of Pacquiao’s campaign platforms is combating corruption, which he blamed for poverty. 

Why Manny?

Pacquiao then enumerated reasons why the public should elect him as the country's next leader. 

“Naranasan kong matulog sa kalye. Naranasan kong walang pagkain sa isang araw. Ramdam ko ang naramdaman ng sambayanang Pilipino at nakita ko ang problema ng ating bansa. Dahil sa nakita ko, kaya kong resolbahin,” he said.

(I experienced sleeping on streets. I experienced having no food for a day. I know the feeling of the public. I saw the problems of our countries, which I can resolve).

Pacquiao is running under the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives (PROMDI) alongside Rep. Lito Atienza (Buhay party-list).