MANILA - Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Friday came to the defense of broadcast journalist Karen Davila who received flak online for their televised interview which has since gone viral.

The boxer-turned-lawmaker also pleaded to the public to "stop the hate" and work instead.

"I was never offended by her manner of questioning. Isa po siyang batikan sa larangan ng Broadcasting at trabaho po niya na magbigay ng mabibigat na tanong sa taong kanyang ini-interview," he said in a statement.

In an interview on ANC's Headstart on Tuesday, Davila sought Pacquiao's opinion on proposals to require senators and presidents to be college graduates, which the legislator said he supports.

"Pero kung ganun, baka hindi ka na mag-qualify," Davila asked.

"Hindi, nag-aaral naman ako," replied Pacquiao, who earlier in the interview thumbed down a presidential run in 2022.

Davila then pressed Pacquiao to reveal where he was studying, but the athlete-turned-politician refused to give details.

"So secret ito," Davila replied. "Pero kumbaga, naghahanda ka sa ganung paraan."

"Naghahanda naman ako. Ako kasi yung tao na hindi kailangang pagsabihan kundi ginagawa ko yung kailangan kong gawin. Like boxing, boxer ako, champion, but actually hindi lang boxing ang sport ko, basketball, volleyball, chess, billiards. Kumbaga, nilalaro ko lahat," Pacquiao said.

Davila was criticized for her questioning, with several netizens saying it was "unprofessional" and "rude."

In his statement, Pacquiao said in both his term as a Sarangani representative and now a senator, he has expressed the desire to continue to learn in life.

"I never quit and I never stop challenging myself. Kung may formal training sa boxing, may formal training din sa education. I continue learning not only in academics but also in life. I never quit and I never stop challenging myself," he said.

"With God’s wisdom, I am pursuing formal education because it is important to gain deeper knowledge and better understanding on what is happening around us," he added.