Roque on Pacquiao’s corruption allegations: Kala ko atom bomb, watusi pala

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque downplayed the corruption allegations leveled by Senator Manny Pacquiao, characterizing the senator's claims as trivial.

Roque was responding to allegations made by Senator Manny Pacquiao that there was corruption in government departments in their COVID-19 response expenses, such as the purchase of personal protective equipment, antigen tests, and in the distribution of cash aid to low-income families dubbed as the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

“Watusi po. Akala ko atom bomb. Watusi pala,” Roque said, referring to a small, locally made firecracker.

(It is just a tiny firecracker. I thought he was going to drop an atom bomb but it was not.)

Roque added that Pacquiao’s accusations were general statements, not evidence.

“Walang kwenta. Walang ebidensiya.”

(His allegations are useless. He has no evidence.)

Furthermore, Roque saw no need for any kind of discussion between President Rodrigo Duterte and Pacquiao - both members of the PDP-Laban.

“Hindi ko alam ano pa ang dapat nilang pag-usapan eh inuna na niya (Pacquiao) ang media,” Roque said.

(I don’t know what they should talk about when the Senator already talked to the media.)

Pacquiao enumerated his corruption allegations in a news briefing after Duterte challenged the Senator to prove his claim that corruption had worsened under the Duterte administration.

The President later dismissed the senator's claims and suggested that Pacquiao should instead focus on his legislative work. — DVM, GMA News