Duterte reveals Pacquiao asked him to be his running mate, and why he said no
June 9, 2024
By Expat Media
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Duterte reveals Pacquiao asked him to be his running mate, and why he said no
MANILA – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Sunday (November 14) that presidential aspirant and Senator Manny Pacquiao asked him to be his running mate, and that he refused.
In an interview with Banat By vlog, Duterte said Pacquiao had asked to meet him last week. According to the Presidential Palace, the meeting on Tuesday was “short and cordial”.
“Sabi nya na magsama tayo for the sake of Mindanao. Sabi ko (He said let’s join for the sake of Mindanao. I said), I am sorry, I cannot support you,” Duterte said.
“Hindi talaga ako magsuporta sa kanya, hindi rin ako magsuporta kay Marcos (I will not support him [Pacquiao], I will not support [Bongbong] Marcos either),” Duterte said.
The rift between Pacquiao and Duterte escalated after the boxer-turned senator claimed massive corruption under the Duterte government.
Pacquiao, once a close ally of Duterte, had said more than 10 billion pesos ($200 million) in pandemic aid intended for poor families was unaccounted for.
Duterte challenged Pacquiao to name corrupt government offices to prove that the boxer was not just politicking ahead of the election. So far, Pacquiao has not come up with names.
Meanwhile, Duterte said he will only support Bong Go, who filed his candidacy for president in the May 9, 2022 elections. He also claimed that both Pacquiao and Marcos cheated Go, although he did not give further details.
Duterte said he will support the presidential bid of Go, his long-time top aide, “as a matter of principle.”
“E wala itong ginawang hambog na kwento na kaya nya, pero alam ko sa taon na nagserbisyo siya sa akin, alam ko talagang honest. Wala ka talagang masilip (He never bragged that he can do it, but in the long years that he served to me, I know he is really honest. You cannot find fault),” Duterte said.
Duterte has yet to announce whether he will be running for vice president, although last month he announced that he will be retiring from politics when his term ends in 2022. CAM/Expat Media
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