President Duterte ordered government agencies to extend their full cooperation to Senator Manny Pacquiao as he told the latter to work on proving his claims instead of being absent in the Senate.
Duterte made the statement as the showdown between the two high-ranking officials of the ruling party PDP-Laban continued months before the start of the election season.
In a speech in Antipolo City, the President told government agencies to cooperate if ever they will be mentioned by Pacquiao.
"I will tell everybody that kung na-mention sila ni Pacquiao na may corruption (if Pacquiao mentioned them to be involved in corruption) that they should cooperate, 100 percent," he said.
"Siya yung may sabi na may korapsyon (He was the one who said there was corruption) so it is his burden to identify the office and failing to do it, failing to prove his case na may corruption, eh mahirap talaga (that there is corruption, then that would be difficult)," he added.
Duterte said that once Pacquiao begins his investigation, he should see it to the end.
"I expect him to sit in Congress, do not go anywhere, finish and find out the corruption that you are talking about. Kung magreport ka lang dalawa, isang buwan (If he will just report for a month or two), then I would say that you are a shit," he said.
"Magtrabaho ka. Hiningi mo yan, nandiyan ang mga papel (Work. You asked for it, the papers are there). Start investigating, Don’t go elsewhere. Comply first with your duty as a senator. Tapusin mo yan... 'Wag kang pa-absent-absent (You should see it to the end. Don't be absent)," he added.
Pacquiao earned Duterte's ire after he alleged that the present administration was three times more corrupt than his predecessor.
In response, Duterte threatened Pacquiao that he would expose him as a liar and campaign against him in the 2022 elections if he would fail to substantiate his allegations.