Pacquiao ‘praying for’ plans for 2022

Sen. Manny Pacquiao said Thursday that he continued to “pray for” his political future as rumors circulated that he planned to run for top national office in 2022.

In a Viber message sent by his staff, Pacquiao, who was installed as the new chairman of the Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan Party (PDP-Laban) on Wednesday night, said that his only goal at this time was “to improve help people at the base, especially survivors of recent disasters. “

The boxing champion, who has won titles in eight divisions, was sworn in alongside President Lord Allan Velasco, who was elected Executive Vice President.

But party leaders immediately quelled speculation that Pacquiao was being groomed as a candidate for top national office in 2022, saying it was too early to talk about the upcoming election.

“Most people see political parties as mere vehicles for campaigning, but [PDP-Laban should be an exception]. The party will provide a national organization and avenues to reach out and directly benefit the poorest of the poor, the voiceless and the defenseless of our nation that Senator Manny Pacquiao was once a part of and is now a champion. ” said Ron Munsayac, the party’s national executive director.

Munsayac said the party’s focus was to help “raped, hungry and desperate” Filipinos cope with the coronavirus pandemic and those affected by a recent series of natural calamities.

The PDP-Laban is one of the largest political parties in the country, with five incumbent senators, 58 members of the House of Representatives, 43 governors, 22 deputy governors, 257 members of provincial boards, 608 mayors, 541 deputy mayors, 4,081 councilors, and 100,000 grassroots communities leaders.

Political analyst Víctor Andrés Manhit, founder and managing director of the political think tank Stratbase Group, said that the election of Pacquiao as president of PDP-Laban must be seen with the presence of Velasco in the equation.

“Senator Pacquiao is known to fully support President Duterte, while President Velasco is also known publicly for being close to the Mayor (of Davao City), Inday Sara. This new leadership is intended to configure PDP-Laban as a party that can provide support to whoever the president chooses. [to run] as his successor [in 2022]”Manhit said.

No Manhit party leader said they were surprised by the election of Pacquiao, who is not known to have led a political party.

“It may have other strengths, but leading a party is different, especially since PDP-Laban has not been known as a party that is internally strong,” he said.

But taking on the role of party chair also doesn’t mean Pacquiao has his eyes on a bid for higher office in 2022, Manhit said.

“This somehow presents him with a dilemma because he is eligible for reelection and has a high probability of winning another term in one of the 12 available seats in the Senate, rather than risking ruining his political career in an individual showdown. [presidential] contest, ”he said.

If there is any indication of his political plans, Pacquiao also announced the upcoming release of a mobile game based on his life story, “Fighting Pride: The Manny Pacquiao Saga.”

Velasco’s appointment to one of the highest positions in PDP-Laban may also be part of attempts to lure Sara Duterte into the alliance, as she has distanced herself from the political party headed by her father in the past, Manhit said.

He agreed with observations that Pacquiao’s installation was also intended to “stop the bleeding” within the party, as he had been hit by defections and internal disputes in recent months, mainly the fight for the presidency of the House. between Velasco and Taguig’s representative, Alan Peter Cayetano. .

“It is no secret that many of its members today [are] former members of other political parties. In other words, many of them [are] Notable political butterflies, ”he said.

‘Deep resources’ Party insiders, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Pacquiao was elected party chairman because of his “deep resources” and that he had the support of President Duterte.

“It’s almost Christmas once again, and party members usually expect ‘presents.’ Holding a party meeting alone is already expensive, ”said a source.

In a statement, PDP-Laban said Pacquiao settled in for what the leaders called a “night of hybrid fellowship” at Acuzar’s Las Casas Filipinas hotel in Bagac city in Bataan province.

In his speech, Pacquiao gave party members his “pledge [to] harness the immense power and influence of the administration party to fight corruption “, which he blamed as the” root cause of poverty in the country. ”

“We are not indebted to big companies, foreign entities or vested interests, but only to the Filipino people. We are here to fight for the poor, the unemployed, the homeless, the voiceless and the hopeless, ”he said.

Pacquiao and Velasco were sworn in before Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, outgoing PDP-Laban president.

Pimentel said he had passed the day to day of the party to Pacquiao, whom he described as “one with modern new ideas and who has the time, energy and audacity to prepare the party for the 2022 national and local elections.”

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