Pacquiao ‘not sorry’ for drug use

BOXING insisted Friday he owed his fans and countrymen no apology after admitting to having used illegal drugs.

Pacquiao, a national hero and endorser of President Rodrigo Duterte's brutal war on crime that has left more than 3,000 people dead.

But the 37-year-old shocked the sporting galaxy this week when he admitted in an interview he had used narcotics in his youth.

"I'm not hiding the fact that I sampled those, but I was young, maybe 15 or 16 years old," he told reporters Friday as he trained for a World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas.

"I used marijuana, I used shabu," he said, elaborating on the time period and the nature of his drug use.

The grade-school dropout ran away from home in his youth and took up boxing to escape poverty, turning professional at 17 on his way to winning an unprecedented eight world titles in different weight classes.

Pacquiao said he did not need to apologize for his previous drug use.

"Why should I say sorry to them? I did nothing wrong," he said.

"Also, I was not addicted. I just experienced it," he said when asked if he became drug dependent.

Pacquiao said his experience should inspire Filipino drug users who wanted to avoid getting arrested or killed in the crackdown.

A convert to a conservative Christian sect, Pacquiao said he used sheer willpower and turned to sports to wean himself away from substance 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."

Pacquiao also likened Duterte's crackdown to a parent's tough love to his children.

"When you discipline your chil be done in order to instill discipline."

Asked to give advice to those wanting to kick their drug habit, Pacquiao said they should engage in physical activity.

"One proven strategy to avoid [drugs] is to make yourself busy through exercise."