The boxing match is over.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque gave this response to boxer-senator Manny Pacquiao after the latter made an appeal to President Duterte to "stop tolerating" his appointees who are allegedly involved in corruption.
During a virtual press briefing Thursday, Sept. 2, Roque insisted that Duterte wasn't the type of person that would coddle his own people when there's clear evidence that they've committed wrongdoing.
Senator Pacquiao, I can tell you I've had personal experiences with the President...Wala kay Presidente kung malapit ka sa kanya (Being a close friend means nothing to the President). And I've proven that.
"Kaya nga lang po ngayon, paano tayo maniniwala na overpriced? (But how can we believe that there's overpricing?) P1,950 as against P3,500," Roque said, referring to the purchase of alleged overpriced personal protective equipment (PPE) in 2020 by the Duterte administration
The Palace official earlier said that the current administration bought PPEs at P1,950 per set, while the previous Aquino government purchased the same grade of PPEs at P3,500 to P3,800 a pop in June 2016 when there was neither a pandemic nor a high demand for such items.
"Tapos na po ang boksing, Senator Pacquiao. Dahil kung may P1,950, mas maliit po yan sa P3,500 (The boxing match is over, Senator Pacquiao. Because the price of P1,950 is smaller than P3,500)," he said.
Roque made this remark knowing full well that the fighting senator had just lost in convincing fashion last Aug. 22 against "super" World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas of Cuba. The Filipino phrase is also used as an expression to mean that something is already finished or settled.
Pacquiao's illustrious boxing career itself hangs in the balance as he is reportedly considering a run for the Palace seat in May 2022. It's this same ambition from "Pacman" that has supposedly led to his falling out with President Duterte, particularly when the former began to highlight "corruption" in various government agencies.
Among the latest verbal jabs from the senator is that President Duterte has been "too defensive" of his appointees.
Roque belied this, and cited the case of the former officials of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) as an example.
"Halos lahat ng presidente sa PhilHealth, natanggal...lahat yan malalapit sa Presidente (Almost all of PhilHealth's presidents were sacked...they were all close to the President). the many times I've questioned yung mga nakaupong PhilHealth, halos lahat sila mga taga-Davao (those sitting at PhilHealth, who are nearly all from Davao).
"Pero lahat po sila, natanggal ( (But al lof them were sacked). So I have personal knowledge na kapag mayroon naman po talagang datos at katotohanan sa mga paratang ng korapsyon, hindi po ipinipikit ng Presidente ang kanyang mga mata (that if there really is data and truth behind allegations of corruption, the President doesn't close his eyes on it)," Roque claimed.
Duterte and Pacquiao belong to separate factions of the ruling party, the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).