Senator Manny Pacquiao remains part of the ongoing selection process of opposition coalition 1Sambayan, convenor Etta Rosales clarified on Monday, Sept. 20.
This, even as the fighting senator formally accepted over the weekend the nomination of Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) for him to become the party's presidential bet in the May 2022 national elections.
"Yes, anybody is kasama sa proseso basta (is included in the process for as long as) they are willing to dialogue," Rosales said in a virtual press conference on the eve of the 49th anniversary of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos's declaration of martial law.
"Si Pacquiao is willing to dialogue also, although he came out already...Pacquiao said na siya ang tatakbo bilang presidente (he will run for the presidency)," she said.
Pacquiao, along with Vice President Leni and Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso, are viewed as part of the rather fractured opposition force by virtue of their criticisms against the Duterte administration.
It's 1Sambayan's purpose to select candidates and then endorse a single, unified opposition slate for the 2022 polls from the position of president down to the senators.
"Nakipag-dialogue na rin si Isko, nakipag-dialogue na si Leni (Isko and Leni have already participated in a dialogue with us)," noted Rosales. Like Pacquiao, Robredo and Moreno are rumored to be eyeing the Palace seat as well.
As for the senator-boxer's declaration of his intent to run for president, Rosales commented that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) still has to clarify which of the two PDP-Laban factions would be recognized ahead of the elections.
"PDP-Laban is also not exactly united because Comelec still has to make its decision with respect to sino ba talaga ang kinikilala nila na kandidato ng PDP-Laban (who will be recognized as the candidate of PDP-Laban)," she said.
Senator Christopher "Bong" Go was earlier endorsed as the standard-bearer or presidential candidate of this other faction of the ruling party.