Boxing star Pacquiao nominated bet for president next year
A FACTION of the Philippines’ ruling political party on Sunday nominated boxing champion and Senator Emmanuel “Manny” D. Pacquiao as its presidential candidate for the 2022 elections.
The boxing legend accepted his nomination during a national assembly of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) streamed live on Sunday. Officials claimed 99% of its base and partners attended the meeting that was largely held online.
During the meeting, Senator Aquilino “Koko” L. Pimentel III, PDP-Laban chairman, called the rival faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi hijackers.
“Today, we will formally fight back against the hijackers,” he said. “We will formally declare as correct what we have been doing all along.”
Last week, the Cusi wing nominated President Rodrigo R. Duterte as its choice for vice-president and his long-time aide Senator Christopher Lawrence T. Go as the party’s presidential bet. Mr. Cusi on Sept. 8 asked the Commission on Elections to declare the Pacquiao-led faction illegal.
Mr. Pimentel called the rival faction greedy, while members of the Pacquiao wing called themselves “the real PDP-Laban.”
“There is a good chance that we will win the coming election,” the senator said. “The real PDP-Laban will run our government.” — A.N.O. Tan
