By Deighton Acuin

PHOTO: Associated Press

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday accepted the challenge posed by President Rodrigo Duterte to name officials and agencies that are involved in alleged corruption in government and will start to probe the Department of Health’s (DOH) purchase of COVID-19 medical equipment.

"Tinatanggap ko ang hamon ng Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Salamat po at binigyan nyo kami  ng pagkakataon na tumulong sa inyo at bigyan kayo ng mga impormasyon para kampanya kontra korapsyon,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

“Magsimula tayo sa DOH. Silipin at busisiin natin lahat ng mga binili mula sa rapid test kits, PPE , masks at iba pa. Handa ka ba Sec. Francisco Duque na ipakita ang kabuuan ng iyong ginagastos? Saan napunta ang pera na inutang natin para sa pandemya?” he added.

He also told Duterte that he is neither “liar” nor “corupt: “Mawalang galang po mahal na Pangulo, ngunit hindi ako sinungaling. May mga naging pagkakamali ako sa buhay na aking itinuwid at itinama nguni’t dalawang bagay ang kaya kong panghawakan. Hindi ako tiwali at hindi ako sinungaling.”

He added: “Nakakalungkot na sa isyu ng korapsyon kami magtatalo, dahil ang kailangan ng bansa ay mga lider na magtutulungan laban dito.”

The issue came after the chief executive, during his weekly Talk to the People program on Monday night, challenged the senator to prove his claims of alleged corruption in government. Otherwise, the former will campaign against the latter.


"Si Pacquiao salita nang salita na three times daw tayong mas corrupt so I am challenging him, ituro mo ang opisina na corrupt at ako na ang bahala within one week may gawin ako," Duterte said.

"'Di ba ang sabi ko noon if you come to know that there is corruption, let me know? Give me the office. Ganoon ang dapat ginawa mo... Wala ka namang sinabi all these years. Puro ka praises nang praises sa'kin tapos ngayon sabihin mo corrupt," he added.

Duterte also slammed Pacquiao as the senator earlier promised that poverty will be eradicated “for six years” if he wins the presidency.

"Do not ever think that if you will win as president na wala nang corruption dito sa Pilipinas," Duterte told Pacquiao.

This was not the first time Duterte chided Pacquiao due to criticisms. On June 9, the president told the senator to study more as the latter said the former’s foreign policy with China over the West Philippine Sea dispute is lacking.


Pacquiao then responded to Duterte’s remark, saying he is just asserting what needs to be said on the issue.