Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has no right to rule as president if his opponent, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, is asked about the former’s alleged corruption in connection with the anomalous use of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or “pork barrel.”
It was 2014 when the alleged “mastermind” of the pork scam Janet Lim-Napoles and whistle-blower Benhur Luy put Bongbong’s name on the long list of lawmakers who poured their PDAF into ghost projects at a kickback.
“Para sa akin… masasabi ko na wala [siyang karapatan maging presidente]… Unang-una, alam natin ang isyu ng korapsyon… Alalahanin natin, kasali siya doon sa Napoles case… Baka nakalimutan ng taumbayan,” Pacquiao said Friday in a video interview with Radyo Inquirer Online.
“Alam mo ‘yung Napoles na ‘yan, noong araw, congressman pa ako, may taong lumapit sa akin na kakausapin daw ako [ni Napoles]… In-explain sa akin, ibabalik daw sa [akin] ang 70%. Ang sabi ko, ‘wag na kaming mag-usap kasi baka mainsulto ko pa siya… Hindi ako pumasok sa pulitika para pumasok sa ganyan [katiwalian].”
Pacquiao raises PDAF scam allegations vs Marcos
On April 5, 2016, the iBalik ang Bilyones ng Mamamayan (iBBM) group filed a P205 million plunder case against Bongbong while urging the Office of the Ombudsman to investigate him for his involvement in the pork barrel scam.
In August 2014, the Commission on Audit ordered BBM to return the “illegal and irregular” P10 million PDAF funds allegedly stolen by the latter from a livelihood project in Nakar, Quezon, through the foundation then led by Luy.
It was only on Thursday that the eight-division-boxing champion-turned-presidential-candidate questioned those who questioned his intellectual capacity to lead, even though many are still voting for government thieves.
“Sinasabi nila si Manny Pacquiao, mahina raw ang utak. Pero hindi, hindi totoo ‘yan. Ang pinakaboboto dito sa bansa, ‘yung boboto ng magnanakaw,” Pacquiao said.
Bongbong’s father, former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., will be remembered as the holder of the Guinness World Record for “Greatest robbery of a Government” after he stole $ 5-10 billion. The stolen wealth is still being recovered to this day by the government through the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG).
In 2018, the Sandiganbayan found Bongbong’s mother, Imelda Marcos, guilty for seven counts of graft. However, she posted bail for temporary release until she appealed her graft conviction to the Supreme Court.
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