Senator Manny Pacquiao's largest volunteer group has decided to support Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso's presidential bid instead in the May 2022 elections.
The Manny Pacquiao Nation (MP) has decided to shift its support to Domagoso and will change its name to Isko Moreno For President Movement (IM4P), according to MP Nation Lead Convenor Col. Dani Enriquez.
“MP Nation is now IM4P or Isko Moreno For President Movement,” Enriquez said.
Enriquez also said that it was a "collegial decision" of its executive committee members to abandon Sen. Pacquiao and support Domagoso instead.
"We will always love and thank Senator Pacquiao for what he has done for the country and would have wanted the two of them (Moreno and Pacquiao) to be in one ticket. But we must admit that the infighting of PDP-Laban has caused much damage and backlog to Senator Manny’s campaign,” Enriquez said.
The volunteer group is composed of an army of coordinators from 78 provinces, 120 cities, 1,109 municipalities, various sectoral groups, and more than 35,000 barangays.
Among the leaders of MP Nation are Atty. Brando Viernesto; former Pasay City Vice Mayor Dr. B. Tolentino; Senior Citizens Partylist Rep. G. Arquiza, Rep. Fausti Tambunting Galang, Rep. Miles, Roces, Atty W. Evasco, Dr. Heal Dinero, former Undersecretary N. Sison, and Dr. Manny Calayan.
Enriques also said that members of the group were not forced to join them but "more than 70 percent" of their volunteer groups have decided to go with the MP Nation's decision.
“Mayor Isko has already shown us the blueprint to bring the Philippines back on its feet with his fight against the pandemic as well as all the projects and programs he has undertaken in such a short span of time as mayor of Manila,” the lead convenor said.
"We are campaigning for a better Philippines and it is our patriotic duty to push for the right leader who can effectively implement this,” Enriquez added.