LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte— Boxing icon and former Senator Manny Pacquiao announced on Tuesday that he had dismissed his service driver after the latter fled from authorities when flagged for unauthorized use of the EDSA Busway.
“Hindi niyo makikita ‘yung taong ‘yan sa akin ngayon. Sabi ko, diyan ka na lang. ‘Wag ka na sumama sa amin,” Pacquiao told reporters. (“You won’t see that person with me anymore. I told him to stay there and not to join us.”)
Pacquiao also reprimanded his chief of security upon learning about the incident.
“Na-briefing ko na chief security ko na mali ‘yung ginawa nila at pinagalitan ko nang pinagalitan. Pinabalik ko nga agad at pinakuha ‘yung ticket dahil nakakahiya, bakit nila tinakasan,” Pacquiao said. (“I briefed and scolded my chief of security. I told him that what they did was wrong, and I reprimanded them repeatedly. I immediately ordered them to return and get the ticket because it was embarrassing—why did they flee?”)
He emphasized that he does not condone such actions, stating, “Bawal sa akin ‘yang ganyan.” (“I don’t tolerate that.”)
Following the incident, Pacquiao’s camp issued an apology.
Over the weekend, the Department of Transportation’s Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation (SAICT) intercepted two vehicles using the EDSA Busway, whose occupants claimed to be part of Pacquiao’s security detail.
One of the passengers initially indicated they would stop to speak with the enforcer but instead drove away. The van later returned, and the convoy was issued traffic violation tickets for disregarding traffic signs and the illegal use of blinkers.
