Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday, Oct. 27 shrugged off insinuations he could run as vice president of former Senator Bongbong Marcos who is also running for president in the upcoming May 2022 elections.
Pacquiao was reacting to reports he is now being eyed to be Marcos’s running mate in next year’s polls, based on an interview with Senator Imee Marcos.
“While I’m flattered of various camps seeking me to be their VP, it requires the Presidency para magawa ang mga pangako ko sa mga mahihirap at sa mga nagsisikap na mula sa hirap (so I can fulfill my promise to the poor and those who are striving to get out of poverty),” Pacquiao said in his message to reporters.
Pacquiao, who is running for president under the Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban) wing led by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also said he believes he is also qualified to run for the top government post having experience in public service on both the local and national levels.
“Ilang taon na ako sa public service both sa local at national levels. Nakita ko firsthand ang mga problema ng bansa. Kahit naging kaibigan natin ang mga Presidente, vice president at local officials ay malaki ang agwat ng mayaman at mga mahihirap dahil sa mga policy na ipinapatupad (I’ve been in public service both in the local and national level for so many years. I’ve seen firsthand the problems our country is facing. Even if we’ve become friends with the President, vice president and local officials we can see the great divide between the rich and the poor due to the policies being implemented),” Pacquiao stressed.
The boxing icon turned politician said he is nevertheless honored to be considered a running mate by a fellow presidential candidate.
“Although, I am touched and extremely honored. Tuloy and laban natin sa pagka-Pangulo. Para sa pagbabago at para sugpuin ang corruption na lumalala sa bansa (We will continue our fight for the presidency. For change and to stop worsening corruption in our country). I will not fail the people,” Pacquiao stressed.
Part of psywar
Sought to comment, Pimentel said the plan to tap Pacquiao as Marcos’s running mate could be part of a psywar or negative psychology.
“That may be part of psywar. Negative psychology. Also being VP is not in the radar of Manny Pacquiao,” Pimentel said.
The PDP-Laban chairman also said Pacquiao already has a serious partner and running mate in the person of Buhay Party-list Representative Lito Atienza.
“The ticket must be ideologically consistent too. Manny Pacquiao and the Marcoses are worlds apart in their analysis of what ails our country,” Pimentel stressed.
“That MP Express Train has left the station and will triumphantly arrive at its destination at the proper time,” he emphasized.