The camp of presidential aspirant Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday, November 4, dismissed reports of an alliance with Senator Manny Pacquiao, maintaining that their focus has always been on their own campaign.
“The only tandem we have been focused on since Oct. 8 has been the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem. We have always assumed that Senator Pacquiao has been similarly focused on his own candidacy. We wish him all the best,” lawyer Barry Gutierrez, Robredo’s spokesman, said.
Senator Kiko Pangilinan, president of the Liberal Party, has been tapped as Robredo’s running mate in the 2022 polls.
His statement came after Pacquiao, during a forum before the Rotary Club Manila, rejected calls for him to withdraw his candidacy. He said his decision to run as president is final because he believes he can do many things for the country.
Calls on social media for the senator to withdraw his candidacy and become Robredo’s running mate instead have been growing for weeks as supporters believe the Vice President has better chances of winning the presidency with Pacquiao’s support in his home region of Mindanao.
Pacquiao, who hails from General Santos City and was a former Sarangani representative, has a strong pull in Mindanao while Robredo is expected to have the Bicol region on her side.
Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño also floated the possibility of a Robredo-Pacquiao tandem, even saying that they will emerge victorious.
“Pag nagsanib-pwersa ang Team Leni at Team Manny, tapos ang boxing (If Team Leni and Team Manny join forces, the boxing is over),” he said in a Twitter post.
The Vice President tried but failed to unite the anti-administration forces after both Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Pacquiao announced their candidacies.
The boxing-champ-turned-senator is running alongside former Manila Mayor and Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, who earlier criticized Robredo for allegedly not having proven herself yet.