黑料社

MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he sees no problem with the appointment of George Garcia as commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as the senator believes that the lawyer will do his duty with no politics involved.

Garcia in 2016 represented Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who lodged a protest for losing the vice presidency to Leni Robredo. Currently, at least four cases against Marcos Jr.鈥檚 presidential bid are pending before the poll body.

Robredo and Marcos Jr. are Pacquiao鈥檚 rivals in this year鈥檚 presidential race.

鈥淪i George kasi mabuting tao naman 鈥榶an, matinong tao 鈥榶an. Naging lawyer ko rin 鈥榶an,鈥� Pacquiao revealed in an interview. 鈥淪o dedicated sa trabaho niya at parehas siya, makakapagkatiwalaan.鈥�

(I know that he is a good person. He also became my lawyer. He is dedicated to his job and he is trustworthy.)

The senator said he believes there will be no compromise on the part of Garcia as he was only doing his job when he represented others in their cases.

鈥淎utomatic lang 鈥榶un na gagampanan niya 鈥榶ung trabaho niya as a lawyer. Ngayon iba na naman trabaho niya, as a commissioner. Protektahan naman niya 鈥榶ung trabaho niya para hindi mahaluan ng politika,鈥� he said.

(It is automatic that he would do his job as a lawyer. Now he has a new appointment which is as Comelec commission. He will protect his job so that it won鈥檛 be tainted with politics.)

鈥淣aniniwala naman ako sa kanyang kakayahan. Walang problema,鈥� Pacquiao added.

(I believe in his abilities. There is no problem.)

Before his appointment, Garcia served as a lawyer for the campaign team of presidential candidate Francisco 鈥淚sko Moreno鈥� Domagoso.

READ: Duterte names new Comelec chairman, commissioners

Garcia on Tuesday said he has inhibited himself in the cases of his former clients, including Marcos Jr.

Apart from Garcia, President Rodrigo Duterte has also appointed PDP-Laban Secretary General Melvin Matibag as acting Cabinet Secretary.

There is tension between Pacquiao and the PDP-Laban faction that Matibag belongs to since the presidential candidate鈥檚 camp is contesting control of the party.

READ: Duterte names PDP-Laban faction exec as acting Cabinet secretary

The PDP-Laban party has been split in two 鈥� one faction headed by Pacquiao and Senator Koko Pimentel and the other headed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi where Matibag is a high-ranking official.聽 Duterte is backing the Cusi-led PDP-Laban wing.

The two factions are claiming control of the party.

In October 2021, the Cusi faction expelled Pacquiao from PDP-Laban. It also聽asked Comelec to declare the PDP-Laban group led by Pacquiao and Pimentel as illegitimate.

With Matibag鈥檚 new appointment, Pacquiao said he bears no ill-will towards the PDP-Laban official, saying it is the prerogative of Duterte to appoint people he trusts.

鈥淪a akin ay nandun 鈥榶ung tiwala ng Pangulo sa kanya, so titingnan lang natin. Hindi ako namemersonal. Ang tinitingnan ko rito 鈥榶ung mabuti o masama. Kailangan magampanan 鈥榶ung trabaho at 鈥榳ag gumawa ng masama,鈥� Pacquiao said.

(For me, it means the President trusts him, so we鈥檒l see. I am not taking things personally. What I am looking at here is what鈥檚 good or bad. They need to do their jobs and not commit any wrongdoings.)

鈥淪a tao itself hindi ako namemersonal. Sino ba naman ako para magtanim ng galit sa kanila. Hindi naman ako perpefto, makasalanan din ako,鈥� the senator added.

(I am not taking things personally. Who am I to hold a grudge? I am not perfect. I am a sinner, too.)

KGA