Senator Manny Pacquiao conveyed his stance on various national issues in an interview seen by more than 185,000 concurrent live viewers.
The last aspirant in the Boy Abunda-hosted series of one-on-one interviews, Senator Manny Pacquiao was also unable to dodge some of the most hard-hitting questions ever asked to a presidentiable with some of them even personal and potentially well-beyond his grasp. Like Moreno, Pacquiao has a strong reliance on his celebrity status. While it remains a mystery how far that fame can push him in his bid for the presidency, it’s no question that it gave him solid ground to stand on to pursue the highest public post in the land.
The presidential aspirant took the hot seat on ABS-CBN’s The 2022 Presidential One-On-One Interviews, last night, to deliver his stance on several national and personal issues. The contender answered the very same questions that seasoned host, Boy Abunda, asked the first three on the hot seat—Robredo, Marcos, Lacson, and Moreno.
On mining and environment.
Pacquiao pushed his stance on mining based on his Christian beliefs. ‘Bawal talaga ‘yan sa mata ng ating Panginoon” he said, noting a verse from the Bible. “…pag sinisira mo ang kapaligiran natin,pinapaigsi mo ang buhay natin sa mundo” he added. That said, he clarified that he is not against the total ban of mining, and he gave a nod on the proposal of sustainable mining, as long as it’s done responsibly.
“Kailangan may rehabilitation program” he proposed. “Hindi natin ipinagbabawal pero kailangangang responsible”
On covid response.
The presidentiable believes in the vaccination dive but he does not agree with mandatory vaccination. “Huwag pilitin ang ayaw magpavaccine” he argued, adding “…wag natin alisin ang rights nila na makapagtrabaho”. He also believes that the country should not implement more lockdowns, and insisted that revenue generation must be a top priority. It’s a solution the senator sees to combat the lack of funds that can be used in times of crisis like the current pandemic.
The senator recognized the need to have a pre-emptive action, and suggested having “… long-term concrete plan”.
On poverty, joblessness, and hunger.
When asked what measures his future government does to confront joblessness and hunger, the celebrity-athlete-turned-politician proposed to revitalize the economy and invite foreign investors to come to the country.
”Marami akong kaibigan na kapag ako daw ay naging presidente ay mag-iinvest sila dito sa bansa” he declared, even naming Chinese tycoon, Jack Ma, as one of those billionaire prospects. He also plans to provide capital to small and medium-sized enterprises to provide more jobs, and thus generate more revenues.
When asked what he will do to quell the corruption in the government, he declared that he[‘s been working on certain strategies, but he refused to divulge what they are so the suspects won’t be able to prepare. In the end, General Santos-native promised to focus on housing and job creation to address the short-term and long-term problems of the country.
On OFW remittances and the unquantifiable social cause of migration.
Abunda lectured Pacquiao on the rising OFW remittances that the Philippines have been receiving throughout the years, and what analysts call an “unquantifiable social cause” that contributes to the destruction of the Filipino family.
“Tutulungan natin sila…auaw ko na maghihiwalay sila sa kanilang pamilya” he promised, noting his intent to create more jobs in the country to encourage Filipinos to stay. He belives that “Ang trabaho ang maghahanap ng tao at hindi ang tao ang maghahanap ng trabaho”, which he insisted to make it happen once he is the president. He also linked the problem to the rampant corruption in the government, arguing that “…kaya ganito ang sitwasyon ng bansa, dahil sa korapsyon. Kung wala ang korapsyon, malayo na sana ang narating natin”. He does not oppose the plan to create a separate department for migrant workers, but insisted that it should be corruption-free.
On cyber pornography and social media misuse.
Abunda related the story of the young American pop star, Billie Eillish, to his next question.
Eillish admitted last year that she became a porn addict at age 11, and she claimed that the addiction wrecked her life, and it distorted her values and morals. Abunda wanted to know how Pacquiao will confront the issue from a parental perspective, if, theoretically, he found out that one of his children had the same addiction, and how he would take motivations from it to adopt policies intended to preserve the welfare of the youth.
“Dapat kontrolin ng gobyerno ang signal…internet signal natin” he suggested, arguing that it is doable because other countries has been successful doing it. When asked if that’s an act of censorship, he said
“Hindi naman po…kailangan lang imanage para hindi ang bata ang nakakapanood”.
The senator believes that communication is a crucial role in parenthood, hence his reply when Abunda asked what his steps will be should he find out one of his children was a porn addict.
“Kakausapin natin, papangaralan” he said.
On rape-related abortion.
“I’m against abortion…wala namang kasalanan ang bata” Pacquiao believes, anchoring his response on his firm adherence to his faith. “May healing pa naman eh, may pagbabago pa” he added, proposing counseling as a resort.
Pacquiao sounded firm in his stance on the matter because when Abunda delved deeper and provided him with more vividly glaring examples of incestuous and non-consensual cases, he further pushed on his Christian belief.
“Kailangan lang ng tamang guidance, counseling sa isang bata,” he said, although to be frank, the senator sounded really layman and naive in confronting this question.
On drug war.
Admitting the rampancy of illegal drugs in the country, Pacquiao declared his intent to continue Duterte’s war on drugs but it must be done “ …in the right way”.
Expressing his plan to stop illegal drugs at all cost, he promised, “ Hindi natin papayagan ang ilegal na droga sa ating bansa, kundi sugpuin natin yan” but argued that anybody accused must have the rights to clear and defend themselves.
He doesn’t believe that the Philippines has become a narcotic state yet, because, in his words “…ini-import ang droga eh…unless dito ginagawa, masasabi natin ‘yon”. He also commended Duterte for alleviating the causes of drug addiction in the country, but also noted the incumbent president’s failure to fulfill his promise within his self-imposed deadline. He also proposed changes in law enforcement. “…kailangang may body cam ang mga officers na mag-aaresto” he said.
On national debt.
Boy Abunda reminded Pacquiao of the debts incurred by the Philippines from each presidency. The presidential aspirant was asked how his government will settle the country’s national debt which almost doubled in Duterte’s administration.
“Ang pinaka-concern ng Pilipinas ay revenue income ng gobyerno, kailangang palakasin…” he declared, which he explained can be done by eliminating corruption in the government. By doing so, he insisted, the government may be finally able to generate enough funds to pay its external debts and thereby focus on addressing issues at home. He also noted how the current president almost doubled the total borrowings of the past four presidencies, and how the national income has been lower than the country’s expenditures, in the past several years.
On the West Philippine Sea.
Pacquiao believes that the Philippines should not allow to be bullied by China. “Kahit maiit tayo…ipaglaban natin ‘yong atin. Puwede namang makipag-usap eh” he argued, although he admitted that China is indeed a powerful country.
When asked if the Philippines can afford to wage a military war with China, he was to firm say, “Kaya natin…malakas ang loob natin…” which sounded uninformed to me.
I wanted Abunda to expound and even shred the question, but the senator just seemed convinced of his stance. That said, Pacquiao believes in the importance of The Hague Ruling and stressed the relevance of continued diplomacy.
On presidential qualifications.
Pacquiao believes that certain provisions of the 1987 Constitution must be modified. “Hindi na naaayon sa henerasyon ngayon, especially yung technology ‘lang, high tech na eh. ‘Yong mga batas na ginawa natin, wala pa ‘yong mga technology noong araw”, although it sounded as if he was talking about the entire constitution, itself, and not on the specific provision that enumerates the qualifications of the president.
When Abunda clarified the question, he said.. ”…kailangang amyendahan” as he agreed with Boy who explained the very reason why the framers of the constitution came up with those basic requirements is to allow everyone an equal chance to become a president. Again, the disconnect was screaming.
“Wag mong tahakin ang isang landas na hindi mo alam” he advised.
On his stance on same-sex unions.
Pacquiao believes in the saying ‘love one another.’
“Tama po yan…” he stated, declaring he remains respectful to the LGBTQIA+ community, and that he has supporters from the community.
On why it’s him who should get the vote and not the other candidates.
Pacquiao based his answers on who he thinks has corrupt issues. He believes former Senator Marcos and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, are tainted with corruption allegations, and thereby undeserving of the public vote, while he was clueless if either Lacson or Robredo is also corrupt. On why it should be him, Pacquiao proceeded to the ‘naghirap din ako route’, which he believes makes him capable of addressing the concerns he is poised to confront as president.
You can see that Pacquiao is trying his best to ace all the questions. He sounded mundane and layman in most of his answers, but there is sincerity, even when he’s mostly stalled by his inability to produce a more solid and articulate response. That being said, we can all agree that a good heart is not enough. We are then left to hope, he is what he tries to project now, should fate lead him to Malacañang.
