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Manila Bulletin

Philippines

Pacquiao suspends political activities due to COVID-19 surge

Philippines

Pacquiao suspends political activities due to COVID-19 surge

By Ben R. Rosario

Presidential aspirant Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao on Monday, Jan.3 called off all schedules for political activities to help government address the surge in COVID-19 cases in the country.

Pacquiao volunteer Odette

Pacquiao vowed to fully cooperate with the government in solving the pandemic crisis that followed the recent celebration of the Christmas season.

“We need to allow the government to take all the appropriate steps to address the rising number of COVID cases,” Pacquiao said in a statement.

“For this, I have advised my team to temporarily suspend all political gatherings and focus more on organizing zoom meetings until this surge is managed by our health authorities,” he said.

Nevertheless, the senator vowed to continue distributing immediate aid to the tens of thousands of victims of typhoon Odette in Visayas and Mindanao.

Earlier, the boxing icon also suspended all political preparations for his 2022 presidential bid and led his team in conducting relief operations for the tens of thousands of victims of typhoon “Odette” in the Visayas and in Mindanao.

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