PACQUIAO, DUTERTE AND DRUGS
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 02 Oct 2016
Senator Manny Pacquiao is hugging the international sports media headlines again. This time on his pronouncements that he was once using illegal drugs.
"I tried drugs...many kinds of drugs, all kinds of drugs," Pacquiao told Reuters. But he was quick to explain that the substance abuse happened before he became a champion.
The revelation came in the midst of his support to the all-out war against illegal drug trade. Since President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was sworn in as the nation's 16th chief executive, there were more than 3,000 deaths of alleged drug pushers, users and financers reported.
Pacquiao staunchly defended Duterte in his fight against narcotics. "God put him there for a reason, for purpose ? to discipline the people."
"What Duterte is trying to do is let the people know ? and put it in their heart and minds ? that you need to respect the laws of the land," added the 37-year-old former eight-division world champion.
Pacquiao and Duterte are both Mindanaoans, from GenSan/Sarangani and Davao, respectively. The senator admitted that then Mayor Duterte helped promote his fights in Davao as a developing pugilist.
Pacquiao immediately was sworn in as a member of Duterte's party PDP-Laban when he assumed a senate seat. His first privilege speech was in support to the president's advocacies including the restoration of the death penalty.
Pacquiao moved for the reorganization of the Committee on Human Rights that led to the ouster of Senator Leila de Lima as chairman, a bold gesture that favored the Duterte anti-drug crusade.
The President may be heavily criticized abroad for pronouncements against the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and lately comparing himself to Adolf Hitler. But the millions of his supporters remained steadfast to Duterte's campaign to give a better future for this country.
And at the top of the Duterte supporters' echelon is Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
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