PRESIDENT Duterte dismissed Senator Manny Pacquiao’s criticism of his handling of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) issue as a sign of the lawmaker’s “shallow knowledge” on foreign policy, but the boxing icon replied with a respectful rebuke, saying, he is a “Filipino voicing out what needs to be said in defense of what has been adjudicated as rightfully ours.”
In his recorded interview with Kingdom of Jesus Christ head Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, which was aired late Tuesday, Duterte took a swipe at Pacquiao’s position that the government’s policy in the WPS was lacking.
“Well, if it’s about foreign policy, I would not want to degrade him but next time he should—you should study well first before discuss [such matters],” Duterte said.
Pacquiao said Duterte was “misinformed” about his position on the government response on its territorial dispute with China in the WPS, which he said, only reflected the sentiment of majority of Filipinos.
He insisted the President should adopt a stronger stance against China on the said issue, referencing criticism over what is seen as Duterte’s cozying up to China on several issues, in exchange for economic support.
“I respect the President’s opinion, but humbly disagree with his assessment of my understanding of foreign policy. I am a Filipino voicing out what needs to be said in defense of what has been adjudicated as rightfully ours,” Pacquiao said in a statement on Wednesday.
The latest bout of contrasting pronouncements of Duterte and Pacquiao has once again sparked speculation of a growing rift between both leaders of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).
Just last week, Pacquiao urged members of the PDP-Laban to boycott the meeting called by the party vice chairman, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
The lawmaker insisted that only Duterte, who is the incumbent chairman of PDP-Laban, has the power to call for such assembly.
Duterte, however, later issued a statement saying he authorized the meeting, which pushed through and led to his nomination by the PDP-Laban to run as vice president in the 2022 polls.
Despite the said developments, both Duterte and Pacquiao have yet to issue any statement that they are officially cutting political ties with one another.