Vote Buying? Pacquiao to Continue Giving Cash Aid, Camp Says

Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao will continue giving out cash assistance to poor Filipinos despite accusations that he might be engaging in vote buying in the run up to the 2022 elections, his spokesperson said Tuesday.

Pacquiao recently went to Batangas where he handed out food packs and P1,000 cash aid to residents. The Department of the Interior and Local Government said it would look into possible violations of health protocols during the gathering.

"Wala tayong violation diyan," said lawyer Nikki De Vega in an online interview with reporters.

"Sabi niya hindi naman siya titigil na tutulong sa tao dahil ayaw ng ibang tao o binibigyan ng kulay. So walang violation diyan," she added.

Pacquiao has been giving out cash assistance to less fortunate Filipinos since 2002 as a way of giving back and returning to his roots, De Vega said.

She also said no protocol against mass gathering was breached during the gathering.

"If at all, gumawa ng kabutihan si Sen. Manny. Siya lang ang isa sa mga mabibilang niyo sa kamay niyo na bumababa sa mga tao at tumutulong," she said.

Despite insinuations of vote buying, De Vega said Pacquiao would keep on giving cash assistance to those in need as he has a "clean conscience."

"Basta malinis ang konsensya mo, hindi ka matatakot. Basta nakasandal ka sa katotohanan, hindi ka matatakot. Maka-Diyos si Sen. Manny at naniniwala siya sa rule of law," she said.

"So walang problema sa kanyang team dahil tumutulong lang siya sa tao. At kung meron man silang gustong bigyan ng kulay, sila na yun. Basta sa team ni Sen. Manny ay tumutulong tayo sa tao," she added.

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