Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao said the people have nothing to be afraid of if President Rodrigo Duterte suspends the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus.

Pacquiao assured that the President would not abuse his authority and would always fight for the rights of the poor.

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“Hindi tayo dapat matakot. Ang Pangulo, para sabihin ko sa inyo, sa lahat ng nakikinig at nonood sa buong Pilipinas ang mamayan, huwag kayong matakot sa ating Pangulo dahil ang Pangulo mahal nya ang buong sambayanang Pilipino,” the senator said in an interview on Monday.

(We should not be afraid. To our countrymen who are listening and watching, I want to tell you that you should not be afraid of our President because he loves our entire nation.)

”Ang Pangulo natin pinaglalaban yung karapatan ng mga mahihirap na tao. Yan ang puso ng Pangulo natin. Kilala ko yan noon pa. Ayaw nya yung may inaapi, ayaw nya yung may mga arogante. Yan ang ugali ng ating Pangulo,” he said.

(Our President would fight for the rights of the poor. That’s where our President’s heart lies. I’ve known him for a long time. He doesn’t want anyone to be oppressed and he doesn’t like those who are arrogant. That’s the attitude of our President)

Pacquiao was reacting to Duterte’s earlier warning that he might be forced to suspend the privilege if lawlessness in the country becomes widespread.

Asked then if it would be okay for him to suspend it, the senator said it would be up to the President to make the decision.

“Hintayin natin kung ano ang decision nya, irespeto natin, i- honor natin dahil kung ano man ang decision nya e para sa kapakanan ng ating bayan (Let’s wait, respect and honor his decision because it’s for our country),” he said.

Duterte, he said, was “wise enough” to make the right decision.

“Ang Pangulo natin, matalino yan hindi mo kailangang pangaralan dahil mataas ang IQ nyan kung alam nyo lang (Our President is wise and he doesn’t need to be advised because he has a high IQ),” the senator said.

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Told that the suspension might be abused, Pacquiao said: “Naku, ako na mismo magsabi, gina-guarantee ko sa lahat na ang ating Pangulo hindi abusado yan (I’m telling you and I guarantee that our President will not abuse it).” RAM/rga

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