By Pearl Gumapos
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte need not apologize to Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Malacañang said on Wednesday afternoon (July 21).
“Walang dahilan para mag-apologize. Lahat ‘yan ay kabahagi ng free marketplace of ideas,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a public briefing.
This was after Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella demanded an apology from Duterte for his verbal tirades against the boxer-senator.
In an interview with One News’ The Chiefs on Tuesday, Puentevella said Duterte “owes” Pacquiao an apology for making profanity-laced remarks against the lawmaker.
Earlier this month, the President advised the senator to “sit in Congress. Do not go anywhere, finish and find out the corruption that you are talking about.”
“Magtrabaho ka. Hiningi mo yan. Nandiyan ang mga papel. Start investigating. Don’t go elsewhere. Comply first with your duty as a senator,” Duterte also said.
This was after Pacquiao claimed that corruption has worsened under the Duterte administration.
This prompted the President to say he would not support the senator’s presidential bid in 2022 if the senator fails to prove his claims.
During political party PDP-Laban’s national assembly which was led by Duterte in Clark, Pampanga on July 17, Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi was installed as the party’s president, replacing Pacquiao. – jlo