Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso must referring to other candidates when he accused some of paying people to attend their motorcades and rallies, the camp of presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao said on Saturday, Dec. 11.
Campaign leaders of Pacquiao said the popular boxing icon is a natural crowd drawer ever since he brought pride to the Philippines by becoming an eight-division world champion.
Pacquiao said he does not feel alluded to when Moreno aired his misgivings about candidates paying people to attend their campaign sorties months before the campaign season for the 2022 elections could start.
Moreno, Aksyon Demokratiko presidential aspirant, referred to the bribery as 'pay-for-hakot."
Pacquiao pointed out that distributing money to people to attend rallies and motorcades is vastly different from the distribution of relief goods and cash gifts he does whenever visiting poor communities in the country.
Under the ‘ayuda’ distribution activities of the Pacquiao team, recipients are pre-selected to ensure that they are truly in need, the senator said.
He also stressed that the financial assistance and goods he distributes come from hard-earned money.
"Hindi tayo yun. Sa atin talagang wala naman tayong ibinabayad sa kanila. Masayang-masaya ang puso ko dahil all-out support sila sa akin at nakita ko kung paano yung pag-welcome nila sa akin. (That’s not us. We don’t bribe people. I am truly happy because of the all-out support people show in welcoming me.),” Pacquiao said.
He added there is also nothing wrong with ayuda giving activities because he has been doing this even before he decided to join politics.
"Kung ano man yung pinamimigay natin ay ipinagpapatuloy ko na lang yung ginagawa ko mula pa noon..yung pagbibigay ng ayuda, Iyun ay pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin na nahihirapan. (Whatever I am giving is just a continuation of what I have been doing before... distributing aid. that is my way of helping our countrymen who are suffering).” he said.
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The senator’s popularity has not waned since he started an outstanding boxing career that endeared him to the people, especially the poor, his camp said.
Pacquiao is dedicating his push for presidency to the impoverished sectors in the country, saying that his platform of government give them utmost consideration.