FILE PHOTO: Senator Manny Pacquiao accepted the presidential nomination of his faction within the ruling PDP-Laban party. PICTURE: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images
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0 PHILIPPINES: Currently serving as a senator, Manny Pacquiao is set to run for presidency on the upcoming Philippines 2022 elections.
At the Philippine National Assembly held on Sunday 19 September 2021, the 42-year-old boxing star was nominated as presidential candidate for the 2022 upcoming elections.
According to earlier September reports, this comes after PDP-Laban President Rodrigo Duterte and energy secretary declined the position of a presidential bet but accepted the nomination for vice president.
“I accept your nomination as the candidate for president of the Republic of the Philippines. It is now the time for the oppressed to win. It is now the time for our nation to rise from poverty. It is now the time for a clean government where every centavo goes to Filipinos,” said Mr Pacquiao at the assembly.
“To those who continue to serve in government to exploit and steal from the country’s coffers, you will find yourselves in jail soon,” he said.
A survey by Pulse Asia and Rappler revealed Mr Pacquiao as one of the preferred candidates for the 2022 presidential run but ‘he was far behind top choices Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno’.
The back and forth factional issues at the leading party opened a spot for the Boxer-turned-politician as ‘seeming’ contender Senator Bong Go, who was nominated by the other faction of PDP-Laban as its presidential candidate said he does not want to run and Mr Duterte accepted the nomination as a vice presidential bet.
One of the greatest and wealthiest boxers joining politics in 2010, Mr Pacquiao well known as ‘Pacman’ and became a senator in 2019.
He won a number of world titles on eight different weight divisions, unfortunately, lost his most recent fight against a Cuban opponent Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas and said was considering retiring (according to close sources).
Analysts say his boxing credentials along with fighting poverty and corruption are likely to be the key themes of his campaign.
“For those asking what are my qualifications, have you ever experienced having nothing to eat, to borrow money from your neighbours or to wait for leftovers at a food stall?
“The Manny Pacquiao that is in front of you was moulded by poverty,” said Mr Pacquiao at the assembly.
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