Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday, Nov. 11 said he has no plans to withdraw his presidential bid in the upcoming May 2022 elections even after meeting with President Duterte.
“Walang atrasan. Tuloy ang laban (I’m not backing out. The fight continues),” said Pacquiao, in a brief statement.
Pacquiao confirmed that his recent meeting with the President in Malacañang was arranged by common friends and it was not a political meeting.
“But it provided us an opportunity to talk about our shared vision for Mindanao,” Pacquiao said.
Likewise, the senator said his stance on the reason why he is running for president of the country has not changed even after meeting Duterte.
“Hindi nagbabago ang paninindigan ko sa pagtakbo bilang Pangulo. Ipakulong ang mga kawatan at iangat ang buhay ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan (My stand on running for president has not change. We will put to jail those who are corrupt and help uplift the lives of our poor people),” added Pacquiao.
“Hindi ako trapo mag-isip. Ang panalo ko ang magpapanalo sa buhay ng bawat Pilipino (I do not think like a traditional politician. My victory would be the victory of each Filipino),” he stressed.
Prior to the meeting last Tuesday, Pacquiao and Duterte had been engaged on a “word war” after calling out the corrupt practices in some government agencies.
The two national officials’ disagreement further deepened when Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP-Laban) members formed factions within the group.
Pacquiao’s presidential bid is now supported by the PDP-Laban backed by Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III.
On the other hand, the PDP-Laban faction formed by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and backed by Duterte is endorsing the tandem of Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.