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Is Sen. Manny Pacquiao gunning for a seat in Malacañang?

It is not the first time that Pacquaio’s name figured as a headline to run for Presidency. In June 2020, Pacquiao would deny talking to his former promoter Bob Arum about his interest in becoming a President in 2022.

Is the People’s Champ looking to become the next Philippine President? For Senator Manny Pacquiao, the answer is “no”—at least at the moment.

Rumors of Pacquiao gunning for the Presidential seat have surfaced anew after Senator Panfilo Lacson revealed that the boxing icon had plans to run in 2022.

Lacson said Pacquiao, who sat one seat away from him at the Senate, has asked him for help regarding a Presidential run.

“Yes, earlier. Two or three times, he approached and sat beside me,” said Lacson in an interview with ANC’s Karen Davila.

He also said Pacquiao was open about running for President, though he remained consistent in his stand to deal with COVID-19 first before going into anything else about politics.

Pacquiao, however, would dispel rumors of a Presidential run anew in a video he would release to members of the media.

“Being president is a destiny given by God. 

“A lot have tried, and a lot have failed. I wish that the next President would have a real concern and love for Filipinos,” said Pacquiao in the 37-second video.

He also told people—particularly politicians—to do away with “colored politics” and to think about the Filipino people.

Reactions have come thick and fast since Pacquiao’s name made rounds in surveys for the next President.

Narvacan, Ilocos Sur mayor Luis ‘Chavit’ Singson has said he is okay with supporting a Duterte-Pacquiao tandem in 2022, according to this article from The Manila Times.

Singson is known for betting on candidates which are assured of victory in elections. His endorsement usually means a lot of support for a candidate that strays into Ilocandia.

Netizens, however, were not as impressed with Pacquiao’s supposedly “I’m not running for President” message.

He would be called out for once supporting a candidate who once showed “malasakit” to Filipinos—President Rodrigo Duterte.

https://twitter.com/renzeidan/status/1372850520956706816

Others would call him a trapo or traditional politician for supposedly not taking a side in politics yet still showing he favors one side over another.

Others would somehow read between the lines and said Pacquiao “believes” the Presidency is for him.

https://twitter.com/perrosalir/status/1372810260583358464

One Netizen, however, would call out the senator for his criteria, saying genuine concern and care for Filipinos is already out of the picture.

It is not the first time that Pacquaio’s name figured as a headline to run for Presidency. In June 2020, Pacquiao would deny talking to his former promoter Bob Arum about his interest in becoming a President in 2022.

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