Boxer Pacquiao backs corruption allegations with allegation of missing public funds

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Filipino Senator and Boxer Manny Pacquiao speaks during the Congressional Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of the Environment Regina Lopez at the Senate in Manila, Philippines on May 2, 2017. REUTERS / Erik De Castro / File Photo

MANILA, July 3 (Reuters) – More than 10 billion pesos ($ 204 million) in pandemic aid for poor Filipino families was nowhere to be found, boxer-turned-senator Manny Pacquiao said on Saturday, adding that he could not be found. This was just one of the findings of his investigation into corruption.

Pacquiao accepted Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s challenge on Thursday to show evidence of corruption in his government, and the boxing superstar said his findings on missing funds were just the tip of the iceberg.

“This is only one of the things that I discovered. It was only three days since I accepted your challenge to present evidence,” said Pacquiao, who found himself in Duterte’s sights afterwards. denouncing the alleged corruption within the government as well as that of the president. friendly relationship with China. Read more

Irene Dumlao, spokesperson for the Department of Social Protection and Development which oversees the distribution of cash aid, said the agency would cooperate with any investigation.

“There are a lot of hungry families and yet billions and billions of money are being stolen from the government,” Pacquiao said in a virtual briefing, pointing to documents on his desk.

Pacquiao, 42, has long been one of Duterte’s strongest supporters, but is seen as a potential candidate when the leader’s six-year term ends next year.

“You shouldn’t be mad at me,” Pacquiao told the president before leaving the country to prepare for a fight next month. “I just wanted to help.

Pacquiao alleged that the intended recipients of cash aid worth 10.4 billion pesos received nothing, but records showed that they did. ” Where did the money go ? He asked.

($ 1 = 49,1000 Philippine pesos)

Reporting by Karen Lema Editing by David Holmes

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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