A fellow party member of Philippines Sen. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao Tuesday criticized the eight-division boxing champion for alleging serious corruption within the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Fellow politician PDP-Laban party vice chairman Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi told Pacquaio Tuesday to "leave before you burn your house down."
"It's really unfortunate that the acting president of the party is accusing the chairperson, who is the president of the country, of those things that Sen. Pacquiao said openly," Cusi said.
Duterte threatened to expose the boxing champion as a liar for making the accusations.
Duterte challenged Pacquiao this week to name corrupt government officials. Duterte wants the boxer-turned-politician to prove he is not politicking ahead of the presidential elections.
Pacquiao has yet to officially announce his presidential bid. Duterte's daughter is reportedly planning to run for president. Duterte's political allies have been urging him to run as vice president after his term ends.
The challenge is the latest in the war of words between the two politicians who have historically been allies. The 42-year-old boxer is seen by some as the most likely successor to Duterte - whose term officially expires in June next year.
Duterte issued the challenge after Pacquiao reportedly criticized the president and
"I'm not saying there is no corruption, so expose it. If you don't do that, I will expose you daily as a liar...I know you from way back," Duterte said during a televised late-night address Monday.
Duterte claimed Pacquiao said the current administration was "three times more corrupt" than the last one. Pacquiao hasn't issued an official response and hasn't publicly spoken about any allegations of corruption.
Pacquiao has long been among Duterte's strongest supporters. The senator and acting president of Duterte's political party backed the president's political decisions - including his war on drugs and his bid to bring back the death penalty.
This isn't the first time Duterte has openly berated Pacquiao. During a previous speech, Duterte told Pacquiao to "study first" after the boxer said he found the administration's stance on the South China Sea issue "lacking" and "disheartening."
