MANILA — President Duterte came to the defense of Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, saying the police chief did not violate the law when he accepted the invitation of Sen. Manny Pacquiao to watch the Filipino boxing icon’s fight in Las Vegas.

“Your defense of (Dela Rosa) was right… There’s no criminal liability (in what he did),” the President told Pacquiao when the latter paid a courtesy call to him in Malacañang on Monday night.

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Mr. Duterte gamely posed with the newly minted World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, who took the title after a masterful performance against Mexican-American Jessie Vargas.

“This your (next) President,” said a smiling Mr. Duterte as he raised Pacquiao’s left hand.

“I would like to send the warmest congratulations from the Filipino people and the government to the senator for doing us proud,” he said.

The Office of the Ombudsman has launched an investigation into the propriety of Dela Rosa’s trip to Las Vegas on Nov. 6 to watch Pacquiao’s return bout against Vargas.

The PNP chief said the senator paid for his and his family’s expenses, including the airfare and the tickets for the boxing match.

The Ombudsman said Section 7 of Republic Act No. 6713, more known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, prohibits public officials from accepting “gifts, gratuity, favor, entertainment, loan or anything of monetary value from any person in the course of their official duties.” SFM

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