President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday told Senator Manny Pacquiao to study first regarding the issues on the West Philippine Sea.
“It’s about foreign policy. I would not want to degrade him, but next time he should, mag-aral ka muna nang husto,” Duterte said in an interview with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy in Davao City.
“Apparently this guy has a very shallow knowledge,” Duterte added.
Last month, Pacquiao criticized Duterte’s stand on China’s incursions in the West Philippine Sea as “lacking.”
“Sa akin nakukulangan ako doon sa kumpara doon sa bago pa siya tumakbo, mage-eleksyon pa lang. Dapat ipagpatuloy n’ya ‘yun para magkaroon din ng respeto sa atin ang China,” Pacquiao said in an online interview with reporters.
The senator referred to Duterte’s statement in the 2016 election campaign that if the tribunal ruled in favor of the Philippines and China refused to honor the decision, he would personally go to WPS to jetski and plant the Philippine flag.
However, Duterte recently said it was just a hyperbole.
Duterte says Pacquiao has ‘very shallow knowledge’ on WPS issues
“Sa akin lang ‘yung una niyang statement bago siya tumakbo magjetski siya, ipaglaban ang West Philippine Sea, magdadala ng bandila, nagbigay ng encouragement sa ating mga kababayan, lumakas ang loob natin. Ito ‘yung gusto ko tapos pagdating ng panahon dapat manindigan tayo kung ano ang sa atin,” he said.
“’Yung ganung mga statement talagang kahit ako napi-feel ko ‘yung patriotism ko sa bansa natin, ito ‘yung bansa natin, ipaglaban natin. Nakakapagbigay ng boost sa ating sarili na ipaglaban natin ang bansa natin,” he added.
Pacquiao, however, said it does not mean that the President should be forced to ride a jetski to the disputed territory but to issue a stronger statement.
“Hindi naman siguro tayo papayag na ang Presidente natin mag-jetski. Pero kung ang Presidente natin maglambot para na rin tayong mawalan ng lakas ng loob,” he said.
Meanwhile, former lawmaker Monico Puentevella said that even if the PDP-Laban pushes for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s candidacy for President, Pacquiao will continue to run for president next year.
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