Senator Manny Pacquiao will no longer be prevented from running for President in the 2022 election, his close friend said Monday.
In an interview with TeleRadyo, former lawmaker Monico Puentevella said that even if the PDP-Laban pushes for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s candidacy for President, the senator and boxing champ will continue to run in the election.
“Si Senador [Pacquiao] naman, ok lang maski sino sa inyo, lalaban ‘yan, kasi para sa kaniya, panahon na. Sa usapan namin, tuloy na tuloy, because para sa kanya, panahon na; hindi na niya makaya ang nakikita niyang mga kakulangan sa bayan,” said Puentevella.
The former mayor of Bacolod City also said that it is better to know in advance who the PDP-Laban will choose as its standard-bearer in the election. Pacquiao is the acting President of the party.
“The earlier, the better na malaman niya katotohanan sa loob. Because kung talagang iba ang pipiliin, kung hindi si Senador ang pipiliin, lalaban ito kasi para sa kanya, panahon na. Ang panindigan niya, napuno na siya, gusto na niyang magserbisyo sa tao,” said Puentevella.
Pacquiao had earlier said that if he ran, he would still be under the PDP-Laban even though there was a raging feud within the ruling party.
Pacquiao determined to run for President in 2022: Puentevella
But Puentevella confirmed that some parties are also allegedly courting Pacquiao so that he can move in with them.
“May mga offers na sa labas. There are other parties now. May ibang partido na na, ‘We will welcome him with open arms’, because who will not accept a man na walang bagahe?” said Puentevella.
Pacquiao earlier asked the supporters of Sara Duterte-Carpio to give others a chance.
“Dapat pagbigyan natin ang iba (Let’s give others a chance),” he said.
“Madami gusto maging presidente pero ‘di sila pinayagan ng Panginoon maging presidente,” he said.
(A lot of people wanted to be president, but God rejected them.)
Palace spokesman Harry Roque said Duterte has yet to decide on his election 2022 plans.
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