Sen. Manny Pacquiao late on Friday gave out cash and food aid to supporters as he took a stand on the ill-gotten wealth of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos' family -- they should return the money to the Filipino people.
At a rally in Batangas province, the world champion boxer turned presidential aspirant told supporters that the country needs a plan to climb out of the pandemic. Pacquiao noted how the Philippines was at the bottom of resilience rankings by Bloomberg and Nikkei Asia.
"Ako'y nagpapasalamat sa ating Panginoon. Kahit paano, narito po ako ngayon para magbigay, i-share sa inyo ang blessings na binigya sa aking ng Paninoon, pagpasensiyahan nyo na po," he said.
Pacquiao promised rice, Chooks-to-Go roasted chicken and P1,000 each to those present, earning applause from the crowd. His office shared a video of the speech and aid distribution on Facebook.
MORE ON MANNY PACQUIAO:
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Manny Pacquaio Greatest Fights: Why He's a Boxing Legend
Earlier Friday, Pacquiao was asked on ANC about the Marcoses, whose scion, Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., is running for president.
"Ayaw kong manira pero yung isyu ng yaman na hawak ng Marcoses, kung ano man yung nanakaw nila sa ating gobyerno, kailangan na nila sigurong ibalik. 'Yun ang sinisigaw ng taumbayan," Pacquiao said, adding, "Kung nagkamali ka, kailangan humingi ka ng patawad."
Pacquiao also answered the argument of Bongbong Marcos' camp that he was too young to have had a hand in his father's Martial Law abuses.
"Doon sa sinabi ni Bongbong, ayaw kong manira pero ito yung sinabi niya, na bata pa raw siya nung nangyari yun which is hindi po yan tama na sabihin niya na wala pa siyang alam doon sa mga nangyayari noong panahon ng tatay niya," Pacquiao said.
MORE ON BONGBONG MARCOS
How Bongbong Marcos is Riding the Strongman Template to Malacanang
Haters Gonna Hate, Bongbong for President Seeks to Revive Marcos Name
Those Marcos Videos on TikTok are Rooted in Decades of Misinformation
Dear Toni, We Didn't Live Through Marcos Years and Our Anger is Valid
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