ALABEL, Saranggani - PROMDI Party presidential bet Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Thursday, Feb. 10 assured Makabayan senatorial candidate Nery Colmenares that prioritizing the welfare of workers, farmers and the marginalized sector will never be stricken out from his platform of government, adding that this is part of his lifetime advocacy.
Pacquiao made this guarantee after Colmenares decided to give up Pacquiao’s endorsement and join 1Sambayan which strongly backs the presidential bid of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Months back, Colmenares, former Bayan Muna partylist representative, lauded Pacquiao for putting him and labor leader Elmer Labog in the boxing icon’s slate of guest candidate to be endorsed by the senator.
“This endorsement and expression of support for me and KMU Chairman Elmer Labog is a sign that he recognizes the need for candidates in the Senate that will push for the legislative agenda of workers, the farmers and the marginalized sectors in our country,” said Colmenares last October, 2021.
He added: “The recognition and support of presidential candidate like Sen. Pacquiao is very important for candidates like me who rely on the support of ordinary Fiipinos in our campaign. We value such unconditional endorsement.”
However, Pacquiao disclosed that he pins several conditions before accepting a senatorial candidate in his line-up of guest candidates who will get his endorsement.
“Marami ang nag-aaplay sa akin na maging guest candidate pero hindi lahat tinatanggap ko. Kasi kailangan sumasang-ayon sila sa programa ko, kailangan sang-ayon sila sa plataporma ko. (There are many applicants for guest candidates but I do not accept all. It is because they have to agree with my program, they have to agree with my platform),” Pacquiao told reporters in an interview here.
The Mindanaoan senator said Colmenares’ decision to choose which president to support should be respected.
“May free will tayo to choose,” stated Pacquiao in a demonstration of political maturity and sportsmanship. According to Pacquiao, Colmenares is “technically” no longer in his lineup of senatorial bets, apparently because he decided to endorse Robredo’s presidency.
In a later interview, Pacquiao, who is also the presidential candidate of the PDP-Laban (Pimentel wing), said Colmenares was correct when he noted that the senator values senatorial bets who will pursue a legislative agenda that would for the welfare of workers, farmers, fisherfolk and the marginalized sector.
He stressed that the senatorial candidates that he is endorsing share the common goal of improving the lives of the poor and ordinary citizens in the country.