Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, Sept. 1 said he holds no grudges with Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi’s group but dialogues with the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) led by the Cabinet official is not likely to happen in the coming days.
Pacquiao admitted he is not yet ready to hold any talks with the Cusi faction since there are still many things to be considered for now such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, poverty and unemployment. Cusi's faction is pushing for a Senator Christopher "Bong" Go and President Duterte tandem to run in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
The Cabinet official and his allies in the PDP-Laban said they have reached out to Pacquiao and is urging him to seek a Senate re-election in next year's polls.
“I am not ready for that because we are still considering a lot of things,” Pacquiao said in an interview over ANC’s Headstart.
“Ako po bilang Christian, hindi po ako galit kay Cusi. Hindi po ako galit sa kanyang grupo. (I’m not angry at Cusi. I’m not angry at his group). Who am I to put grievances to someone? I am also a sinner who needs forgiveness from the Lord,” he said.
Pacquiao said he and his camp believes in giving importance to resolving the current health crisis and providing solutions to the country’s problems.
“Ano man political career na yan, ang Partido, ang problema madaling pag usapan yan pagdating ng panahon kapag ma resolba na natin ang ating hinaharap na pandemyang ito (The political career and the problems within the party can be resolved in time if we are able to resolve this pandemic),” he said.
Pacquiao also said he is confident that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) will decide rightfully and declare the legitimate PDP-Laban party.
If the camp of Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, whose family established the PDP-Laban party, Pacquiao said he will not leave those who supported and sided with him during the infighting within the party.
“Naniniwala ako sa Comelec na magdedesisyon sila nang tama kung sinong nararapat at saan nararapat na Partido, especially ang bumuo ng Partido eh yung Pimentel family (I believe the Comelec will decide rightfully on who is the legitimate party, especially the one established by the Pimentel family),” he stressed.
Pacquiao said he will finalize his political plans whether or not to run for president in the May 2022 national elections on October.
“Pag tumakbo kasi ako, gusto ko maging effective ako. Kung ano maging decision ko, gusto ko yung maa-accomplish ko yung pangarap ko para sa bayan (If I run I want to be effective in that position. Whatever my decision is, I want to be able to accomplish whatever dreams I have for this country),” the senator said.