Albay Rep. Joey Sarte Salceda chose to endorse the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo but being the in-house congressional economist’s second option is enough motivation for PROMDI party standard-bearer Senator Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao had previously been mentioned by Robredo as the presidential candidate who would get her vote if she was not part of this year’s candidates for the country’s top post.
“Nagpapasalamat ako kay Cong. Salceda sa kanyang positibong pagtingin sa aking pagtakbo (I thank Cong. Salceda for giving a positive outlook to my candidacy),” said Pacquiao upon learning that the Bicolano solon picked him as a second option to Robredo.
He said: “Coming from someone known for his intelligence, I’ll take his comment as a motivation to work harder in my mission to change the situation of our country.”
“Kailangan kong maipanalo ang mga mahihirap kaya lubos ang aking pasasalamat sa mga Bicolano na patuloy ang suporta sa aking mga ipinaglalaban (I must win for the poor that is why I am very thankful to Bicolanos for their continued support for my fight),” said the Filipino boxing icon.
In a media interview, Salceda, who has been the go-to guy whenever there are economic issues to be resolved in the Lower House, said he ranked the five leading presidential candidates in terms of their clean record in governance and came up with Robredo on top of his list.
Pacquiao ranked second, then followed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and former Sen. Bongbong Marcos, in that sequence.
Salceda, chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, said what the country urgently needs is a president who can “inspire confidence” among foreign investors.
A regional official of the PDP-Laban (Cusi Wing), Salceda stated that foreign investments should start pouring into the country to drive economic growth and salvage the country from its huge foreign debts.
Pacquiao has presented a platform of government centered on anti-poverty and anti-corruption programs.
He aired the belief that poverty in the country can be reduced, if not totally eliminated, if corruption in government is ended and dishonest officials are all sent to jail.
Salceda, an ally of the Duterte administration, said he is pushing for election victories for his picks: Robredo for president and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio for vice president.
The two choices belong to rival camps.