Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao has slammed the way politics is run in the Philippines like a business and not as an opportunity for public service.

Pacquiao, in a video interview sent to reporters on Sunday, Dec. 20, said this is the reason why he chose to run for the Senate.

“Sabi ko mas marami akong magagawa kasi nakikita ko ang pulitika dito sa bansa natin, ginagawang business (I’ve said before that I entered politics because I believe I can do much more to serve the people because the way I see it, politics in this country is becoming a business),” Pacquiao said in the interview.

“Karamihan dito sa bansa natin, alam mo ang iniisip nila (Most in the country, they think that) politics is a business. Politics is not a business, it’s a public service,” the country’s boxing icon reiterated.

“Dapat hindi mo pinagkakitaan ‘yung politics. Importante tunay na may malasakit at pagmamahal sa ating bansa (One shouldn’t profit from politics. What is important is to show concern and love for the country),” the senator added.

The lawmaker also reiterated he believes one doesn’t have to pretend to be a genius or smart enough to impress people to be able to lead.

“You need to pretend that you are genius or smart enough to impress people? To deceive people? Hindi na uso ngayong panahon ‘yan. Importante yung madama ng mahihirap na tao, madama ng maliliit na tao na mahal sila. Yun ang importante… politics is public service,” he stressed.
(That’s not the trend these days. What is important is for poor people to feel they are loved. That is what’s important.)

He slammed politicians who are pretending to be smart while most Filipinos are still living in poverty.

“Marami sa atin naggaling-galingan—ang tawag ko dyan is pretentious genius leader. Samantalang ang kawawa ang mga mahihirap na tao,” he said. (Many of are pretending to be smart—I call those pretentious genius leader. While a lot of people are poor and are suffering.)

“f I just imitate other politicians, I’ll be useless. I want to serve for the benefit of the people while I am still in politics because that’s where I came from,” the senator added as he recalled his experience in poverty.

He also reiterated his belief one doesn’t have to speak perfect English just to prove that one is a good leader.

“Ang mga tao kasi, o kelangan, I have to speak good English, I have to have perfect English to prove that I’m a good leader. No, the most important for a leader is this: If you already know the problem, you know how to solve the problem,” he said.

“That’s what we need. And this pretentious genius politician, trying to speak good English, perfect English to impress people. And that’s what happened to this country,” Pacquiao stressed.