President Duterte has dismissed Senator Manny Pacquiao's allegation that P10 billion in government funds have been lost to corruption.
According to the President, Pacquiao must be "punch-drunk" to make such baseless allegation about corruption in the government's distribution of aid to people affected by the pandemic.
"Mga kaibigan huwag kayong maniwala, 10 billion mawala (My friends, do no believe that P10 billion funds are missing)...I think Pacquiao is punch-drunk...to be talking about 10 billion from nowhere," he said during a public address Monday, July 11.
Duterte, who has an ongoing feud with Pacquiao, insisted that the government would not allow such huge funds to go missing in the first place.
"Papayag ba naman ang COA niyan? At hindi lang ‘yan, papayag ba kami? Papayag ba ang mga secretary ng mga departamento na papayag na ganoon na may mawala, 10 billion? (Will COA allow that? And not only that, will we allow that? Will the department secretaries allow P10 billion to be lost?)," he asked.
"That is a statement coming from a guy who is punch, suntok ba, punch-drunk, lasing. Look it up sa ano ninyo, makita ninyo sa cellphone ninyo. Diyan sa internet diyan (That' s a statement coming from a guy who is punch-drunk. Look it up in your cellphone, on the internet)," he added.
READ: Pacquiao tags DSWD in corruption, cites ₱10.4-B 'missing' SAP funds
Pacquiao earlier alleged he has documents to prove instances of corruption allegedly committed by officials in government. Citing an example, he claimed that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) failed to properly distribute P10.4 billion in pandemic aid.
The department has already denied that social amelioration funds went missing, insisting all financial transactions were accounted for.
Pacquiao made the statement after the President challenged him to name corrupt agencies to prove he was not politicking ahead of the elections. Duterte threatened to campaign against Pacquiao if he is unable to prove his claim that corruption worsened under his administration. The boxing icon is rumored to be eyeing the presidency.
READ: ‘Walang nawawala’: DSWD assures SAP funds ‘all accounted for’