Probe Dela Rosa? ‘Focus’ on Yolanda fund misuse instead – Pacquiao

Camille Elemia

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Probe Dela Rosa? ‘Focus’ on Yolanda fund misuse instead – Pacquiao
Do not look for faults in others just because they are your political enemies, Senator and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao suggests amid the Ombudsman's investigation of the PNP chief

MANILA, Philippines – As the Ombudsman probes Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa for letting Senator Manny Pacquiao pay for his and his family’s trip to Las Vegas, the boxing champion-turned-lawmaker suggested that the attention be given instead to the misuse of Typhoon Yolanda funds.

Pacquiao once again defended his friend Dela Rosa, who, together with his family, watched the senator’s boxing match in Las Vegas for free, including accommodation and allowance. (READ: 3 unresolved issues, 3 years after Yolanda)

“Minsan, ano rin natin, may mga bagay na dapat nating tutukan, especially ang corruption, lalong lalo na ‘yan. Kailangan maipaliwanag nang husto ‘yung funding ng Yolanda,” Pacquiao told reporters on Monday, November 14.  

(Sometimes, there are things we should focus on, especially corruption. Somebody has to be made to explain thoroughly how the Yolanda funds were spent.) 

“Ang mga naghihirap nating kababayan na wala pang mga bahay, nangangailangan pa sila ng tulong. Eh nasaan na ‘yung pera? ‘Yun ang dapat nating tutukan. Hindi ‘yung gagawa ka ng butas dahil kalaban mo,” said Pacquiao, a party mate of President Rodrigo Duterte.

(Our impoverished countrymen don’t have houses yet, they need help. But where’s the money? That’s what [investigators] should focus on, and not look for faults in others just because they are your [political] enemies.) 

He reiterated that there was nothing wrong with him treating Dela Rosa and his family.

“Sa aming mga Bisaya, wala kaming iniisip na masama or ano. Ang hangarin namin ay magserbisyo, linisin ang ating bansa, at magkaroon ng matiwasay na pamumuhay ang mga mamamayan,” Pacquiao said.

(We Visayans are not planning on anything evil. Our desire is to serve, clean up the country, ensure that our people live in peace.)

Pacquiao hails from General Santos City, while Dela Rosa is from Davao, both in Mindanao.

Despite the ongoing probe, Dela Rosa said he has “no regrets” that he accepted the all-expenses paid trip from the world boxing champion.

“I have no regrets because I was given quality time with my family, and it was for free. So it’s okay if I go to jail as long as my family is happy. I did not steal that money nor did I ask for it. I never asked for it. Senator Pacquiao, my kumpare and my friend, offered it with no strings attached. As far as I’m concerned, my conscience is clear,” said Dela Rosa.

The PNP chief’s wife, two daughters, and only son joined him in Las Vegas.

Dela Rosa may have violated two laws prohibiting public officials from accepting gifts: Presidential Decree 46 and Republic Act 6713, or the code of conduct for public officials.

The laws, explained lawyer Arno Sanidad, a professorial lecturer at the University of the Philippines College of Law, aim to thwart any possibility of graft or corruption by making it illegal for public officials to receive or solicit gifts of value.

Pacquiao is a member of the Senate committees on justice and human rights and public order, the two panels that investigated the spate of extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

The two committees are also set to probe the role of the police in the killings of Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr of Leyte and Mayor Samsudin Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao. – Rappler.com

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Camille Elemia

Camille Elemia is a former multimedia reporter for Rappler. She covered media and disinformation, the Senate, the Office of the President, and politics.