Monday, May 24, 2021

Sensitive much? Pacquiao fumes at Pia Cayetano for being ‘rude’ as debate on pet bill stalls

Senator Manny Pacquiao clashed with Senator Pia Cayetano anew on Monday (May 24) because her interpellation on his pet bill to create a boxing commission had to be rescheduled.

During the plenary session, Pacquiao said he felt “disrespected” when Cayetano left the session hall on May 19, the day she was set to ask him questions on his proposal to establish the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission.

“Ang sa akin lang naman doon is yung ma-inform ako, hindi ako ma-surprise na naghihintay ako tapos pagdating ng turn ko eh wala na palang mag-i-interpellate sa akin,” he said.

“Siyempre naghintay staff ko, naghintay ako…bago sana siya umalis na-inform ako na wag na muna natin gawin ngayon. Parang sa sarili ko eh parang nawalan ako na respeto sa bagay na yun dahil di ako na-inform. That’s what I feel,” Pacquiao added.

The boxing icon said he would have understood if the interpellation had to be rescheduled as long as he was informed about it by Cayetano or her staff.

“Dapat maintindihan mo yung side ko dahil naghintay ako. At least kung ininform ako na ‘pasensiya ka na marami akong gagawin’, wala akong problema diyan madali akong kausap,” he said.

“Pero yung lalayasan ako, wala man lang sinasabi sa akin, tapos wala na pala sa building, eh pangit naman yun parang disrespect sa akin sa part ko. Tao rin ako, may nararamdaman. Gusto ko lang din iinform sa body na na tao rin ako may nararamdaman, for your information lang,” Pacquiao added.

The eight-division world boxing champion earlier had difficulties answering Cayetano’s questions on his bill when they faced off on May 18.

In response, Cayetano said she didn’t mean to disrespect Pacquiao. She said she asked permission from Senate President Vicente Sotto III to leave the session hall to prepare for her sponsorship of the bill taxing Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs)

“Nagpaalam naman po ako nang maayos, no intensiyon po na makasakit. Hindi po tayo naglayas. Never ho akong nag-delay, never akong naglayas. Ako nga lagi ang naghihintay dito para ma-interpellate eh,” Cayetano said.