Philippine Boxing Legend Pacquiao; No Apology For Drug Use

Philippine boxing superstar and Senator Manny Pacquiao admitted to the use of illegal drugs in the past. However, he maintained he owed nobody, including his fans and countrymen, an apology.

Proclaimed a national hero, the sportsman is a prestigious supporter of his president’s violent war on drugs. The casualty count from President Rodrigo Duterte’s war presently stands at more the 3,000 fatalities.

In an interview this week, he confessed to using narcotics in his teenaged years.

“I’m not hiding the fact that I sampled those, but I was young, maybe 15 or 16 years old,” he said to reporters. At the moment, Pacquiao undergoes training for his WBO fight against top welterweight Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas on November 5.

He said, “I used marijuana, I used shabu,” even mentioning the types of drugs he used.

Locals dubbed crystal meth stimulant “Shabu”, which also happens to be the primary narcotic choice of roughly 3.7 million Filipino addicts.

The boxer/senator firmly encourages Duterte’s anti-drug campaign. A crusade condemned internationally for assumed extrajudicial killings.

He also endorses the President’s plan to reinstate the death penalty for convicted drug dealers in the predominantly Catholic country.

Not an addict

On his refusal to apologize, he stated, “Why should I say sorry to them? I did nothing wrong.”

“Also, I was not addicted. I just experienced it,” he added when a reporter asked if he turned out as a drug dependent.

Pacquiao said that he came out with his admission and related his experience to inspire drug users. If they surrender to the authorities, they can expect leniency and avoid execution in the crackdown.

It all boils down to pure willpower according to him. He focused on sports to force himself from drug abuse.

“Everyone knows that I drank, I gambled and had many women, but realized these were all sins so I stopped. I’m sure what I did for myself was an inspiration to all.”

“It’s up to the person if he really wants to have a fresh start.”

“God gave all of us a brain to discipline ourselves,” he added further.

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Philippine Ex Presidential Candidate Miriam Defensor Santiago Dies of Cancer

Miriam Defensor Santiago, Philippine most sought after ex-presidential candidate succumbed to lung cancer at the age of 71. Her husband said in an interview that Miriam “died peacefully” in a hospital in Manila on Thursday morning.

The former judge and senator sought presidency twice, prior to the last elections, in 1992 and 1998. Having lung cancer did not stop the former senator as she boldly held office before running for presidency.

Miriam Santiago, known as the Iron Lady of Filipino politics was born in Iloilo City. She announced to her supporters that she was suffering from stage four lung cancer in 2014.

Furthermore, she needed to turn down a judicial position at the International Criminal Court because of her illness.

Miriam’s blunt and daring style helps her unflinchingly stand on major issues on corruption. She was known to have a quick wit and courageous statement in court even at rallies. Miriam is Philippine’s feisty senator whose trademarks were her frank and fearless style of speech.

According to Rico Hizon of BBC News, “In my days starting out as a reporter in the Philippines, I remember she was always accommodating. She would joke gamely with the Philippine media.”

‘The best president we never had’

A Facebook post from local media network, GMA News Agency it drew more than 300,000 reactions and 50,000 comments.

Filipinos flooded social media with tributes to the late Senator; describing her as the best president the Philippines “never had”.

One Facebook user, Cedric Pazcoguin posted, “We just lost a great woman, a great Filipino and a great public servant. Rest in peace, madam senator,”
Ruby Ann del Rosario, Miriam’s supporter from Manila said “My heart is broken but I am finding comfort to the fact that she passed away peacefully in her sleep. Rest in perfect peace – our nation will surely treasure your legacy forever,”

Other posted similar quotes like Kharl Ferrer, who may have best described Philippine’s sentiment. He posted “You could have been one of our greatest presidents. This is a very sad day for the Philippines. We lost a gem”.

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