House Deputy Speaker and Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza on Wednesday, Sept 8 said he is hoping that Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno and Sen. Manny Pacquiao will decide to join forces in the upcoming May 2022 national elections.
Earlier in the day, Pacquiao, in a virtual press conference, remained mum on his political plans for next year’s polls, saying he will come up with a decision on October 1.
But Pacquiao has made known that his primary advocacies would center on eradicating corruption in the bureaucracy and pursuing a better national housing program the country’s 1.9 million informal settlers and the rest of the poor households.
Atienza said he is doing his best to convince both camps to unite and make self-sacrifices for the country.
“I believe that two people who could promise serious changes in the political direction of the nation, would be Manny Pacquiao and Isko Moreno. That’s why I hope, and I’m doing everything I can to convince them magsama kayo, wag kayong maglaban (unite, don’t fight each other),” Atienza said in an Ugnayan sa Batasan online press briefing.
“Pareho kayong ng adhikain, pag nagtulungan kayo—one is from Manila, the other one is from General Santos—and you have a story to tell the nation and the people, maganda ang dating (the outcome would be good),” the partylist lawmaker stressed.
“Unity is very important when facing up against the power and resources of the administration. Yun lang ang masasabi natin. Tunay kayong mga lingkod bayan, para kayong (That’s all I can say. You are real public servants, you must be the) Solomonic solution,” he said.
“So do not insist on just one point look into potentials of your decision. To be uniting the two of them would be the total force that will really generate a big tidal wave to sweep the (upcoming) elections,” Atienza added.
Atienza said he is doing his best for the two potential presidential candidates to meet and discuss their political options and hope this would happen soon since the filing of the certificate for candidacy (COC) is near.
According to the solon, both Pacquiao and Moreno were “not enthusiastic” when he proposed the idea of them running in together in the upcoming polls.
“The initial reaction syempre is not enthusiastic. Open, but not excited, Meron silang mga plano eh (they have individual plans),” Atienza lamented.
Still, he said, he would be trying his best to get a formal meeting between the two politicians.