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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Pacquiao in LP? Drilon says party to stick to principles, platforms

Pacquiao in LP? Drilon says party to stick to principles, platforms

Published Jun 30, 2021 02:47 pm

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon is not discounting the possibility of the Liberal Party (LP) adopting Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, but said the opposition party has "certain principles" to stand by.

Sen. Emmanuel 'Manny' Pacquiao interpellates a bill during the Senate plenary session on June 1, 2021. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB)

"Anything can happen except that we have certain principles and platforms in the party. We stand for certain principles," Drilon said during an Kapihan sa Manila Bay press forum on Wednesday, June 30, when asked if the LP would be willing to take in Pacquiao amid his rift with President Duterte.

The LP vice chairman said he would not be surprised if Pacquiao will be ousted as acting president of the Partido Demokratiko ng Pilipinas-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), which Duterte chairs.

Drilon predicted that the boxing champion-turned-politician, who is now planning to run for president, would likely be removed from his position in the ruling party by July.

Still, Drilon refused to categorically commit the LP's willingness to open its doors again for Pacquiao. He said their political party currently focuses on preparing for possible bid of LP chairperson and Vice President Leni Robredo for presidency in 2022.

"Kung hindi siya tumakbo (If she does not run), we are open to alliances and we are open to discussion. That’s all I can say," he said.

Drilon said the LP is "continuing to organize" and recruit more members, admitting that they lost several members when former President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III stepped down from office in 2016.

"Unfortunately, we have no strong political party in our environment today and it is still personality based...When election comes, dumarami ang mga sumasali at kapag natapos na ang halalan, everybody gets attracted to the President as a person in power," the veteran senator lamented.

Pacquiao has been with various political parties. He was reported to be with the LP before joining former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's political party Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino or Kampi. He then left Kampi for Nacionalista Party (NP) and campaigned for the presidential bid of former Senate President Manny Villar in 2010, while he ran for Sarangani congressman.

Although he was still a member of the NP, the boxer was also vocal in supporting the Aquino administration.

Pacquiao eventually transferred to then opposition coalition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), which carried him in his senatorial bid in the 2016 elections.

When Duterte won as president, Pacquiao again moved to the PDP-Laban, and has backed several of the former's policies, including those criticized by the LP and its members.

Earlier, LP president and Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan said they would be open to accepting Pacquiao into their party if the latter "is sincere in looking for solution to the country's myriad problems".

Related Tags

President Duterte Leni Robredo Franklin Drilon Liberal Party Manny Pacquiao PDP-Laban
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