- Title: Philippines' Pacquiao admits drug use despite friendship with President Duterte
- Date: 29th September 2016
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO TALKING TO JOURNALIST PACQUIAO NODDING MAN TALKING TO JOURNALIST AND PACQUIAO (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO, SAYING: "I have tried drugs before, and then I realised it's not good for the body. I accept it, I cannot deny it, that was before, and that's how (why) I strongly support the president, that he fights illegal drugs." JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO, SAYING: "He's a very nice person, he's nice guy, you know. It contradicts what you thought or somebody thought about him. He's a respectful person, a hospitable person, he's a friendly person." JOURNALIST ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO, SAYING: "Yes, God put him there for a reason, for a purpose - to discipline." PACQUIAO'S EYES (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATOR MANNY PACQUIAO, SAYING: "The committee should investigate and gather information and legislate, not to use the committee to persecute or single out a person like this administration. That's what I'm trying to explain to the people, to the public, that it's not my intention to remove her from the chairmanship of a committee of justice to stop the investigation. In fact, the investigation is to continue." PACQUIAO STANDING UP FROM CHAIR SENATE SESSION IN PROGRESS PACQUIAO ENTERING SENATE PLENARY HALL PACQUIAO LISTENING TO FELLOW SENATOR SENATE SESSION IN PROGRESS PACQUIAO READING DOCUMENTS SENATOR POINTING AT PACQUIAO VARIOUS OF PACQUIAO SHADOW BOXING INSIDE RING VARIOUS OF PACQUIAO HITTING PUNCHING BAG VARIOUS OF PACQUIAO PUNCHING SPEED BALL
- Embargoed: 14th October 2016 07:43
- Keywords: Manny Pacquiao Rodrigo Duterte Philippines tattoo
- Location: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- City: MANILA, PHILIPPINES
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00151MAWCL
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Filipino boxing icon and senator Manny Pacquiao spoke about his drug use in the past despite his friendship with President Rodrigo Duterte, whose fierce war on drugs has racked up a body count of around 3,000.
Pacquiao, nicknamed the Destroyer for the ringside moves that earned him millions, also admitted that Duterte, a close personal friend, was unaware that he had used illegal drugs as a young man.
"I have tried drugs before, and then I realised it's not good for the body. I accept it, I cannot deny it, that was before, and that's how (why) I strongly support the president, that he fights illegal drugs," he said.
The drugs included methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, marijuana and cocaine and Pacquiao used them "for years" but it was when he was a teenager and before he "became a champion".
The friendship between the boxer known as "The Destroyer" and the president known as "The Punisher" dates back at least 15 years as Pacquiao tells it, to a boxing ring in Davao, where Duterte sponsored one of his fights.
Pacquiao also said Duterte was anointed by God to discipline the Filipino people. He is confident that his past use of illegal drugs would not ruin his relationship with Duterte, adding that the President was a man of second chances.
The side of Duterte that the public more frequently sees is the casually-dressed, cursing 71 year-old who aggressively presides over an anti-drug crusade in which police and vigilantes have killed around 3,000 people since he was sworn-in on June 30.
Pacquiao said pinning the body count on the president was unfair because it was drug lords and drug pushers who were killing one other.
Last week, Pacquiao helped sideline one of Duterte's most outspoken critics, fellow Senator Leila De Lima, by leading a motion to oust her as the chair of a high-profile committee examining the president's links to vigilante death squads in Davao during his time as mayor.
Pacquiao said his move against De Lima had nothing to do with the subject matter of the Senate inquiry.
"The committee should investigate and gather information and legislate, not to use the committee to persecute or single out a person like this administration. That's what I'm trying to explain to the people, to the public, that it's not my intention to remove her from the chairmanship of a committee of justice to stop the investigation. In fact, the investigation is to continue," he said.
Until now, the eight-division boxing champ's congressional career was notable mostly for his absence. When he was elected to the House of Representatives in 2013, he was present for just 20 of the 192 days he served in the three sessions he held office.
That changed abruptly when he was elected to the Senate in May, the same day that his friend and fraternity brother Duterte clinched the presidential vote. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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