MANILA, Philippines — Boxing champ Sen. Manny Pacquiao defended his wife Jinkee Pacquiao against people criticizing her for the lavish outfit she wore during the Pacquaio-Ugas match in Las Vegas.
In an interview with “The Chiefs” on One News, Manny said those things were bought using his hard-earned money and not from the public funds.
“Yung asawa ko, mukhang mamahalin lang yun, pero hindi naman masyadong mahal yung mga isinusuot niya. At 'yan namang pera na 'yan, dugo at pawis, hard-earned money ko,” Manny said.
"Ano 'yan, hindi 'yan ninakaw sa gobyerno, hindi 'yan ninakaw dun sa mga tao, kundi pinaghirapan ko 'yan, pinaghirapan namin. Now, kung ano man meron kami, dream namin 'yan. Sakripisyo, dugo at pawis ang puhunan namin para kami maging masaya,” he added.
Manny also said that if they wear not branded clothes, people will perceive them as “plastic” and he will be called as a traditional politician or "trapo".
“Yun po ang ano natin, unless kung magsuot kami ng mga pangmahirap, e, magiging plastic din kami. Na sabihin na, ‘Ang style ng mga trapong politician,' minsan lalo pagdating ng eleksyon, magsusuot 'yan, kung puwede lang punit-punit yung mga damit, e, para sabihing mahirap, e, hindi ba? E, hindi kami ganun, e. Hindi kami marunong makikipagplastikan,” he said.
“Gusto namin, kung ano yung tinatamasa namin ngayon, pinagdadaanan naman namin ngayon, gagawin namin dahil hindi naman kami nagnanakaw, hindi naman kami... pinaghirapan namin 'yan kung ano meron kami,” he added.
Veteran columnist Cristy Fermin took a swipe at Jinkee recently after it was reported that she wore an outfit allegedly worth around P1.5 million during the Pacquiao-Ugas bout in Las Vegas.
“Kung mayroon siyang pakialam, dapat 'di niya inilalantad ang kanyang kayamanan sa pamamagitan ng kanyang mga kagamitan. At, wala pong kahihiyan si Jinkie Pacquiao... Andami-daming nagugutom na pamilya, andaming walang pambabara sa lalamunan patungo sa bituka, ipagpaparadahan mo lahat ng binibili mo.. Wala ka sa timing, hindi ka marunong umunawa sa sitwasyon ng mundo ngayon,” Cristy said.
Jinkee, meanwhile, posted a photo of her on Instagram saying: “Some people have so little going on in their lives, they would rather discuss yours.”
“Remember, people only rain on your parade because they're jealous of your sun and tired of their shade. Spread Love! We should love one another, for GOD is love! God is good all the time!” she added.