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Manny Pacquiao to run for president in Philippine 2022 elections
The boxing legend turned senator announced his acceptance of the nomination to run for the highest office in his native Philippines.
From the boxing ring to the political arena Manny Pacquiao may be about to enter the biggest fight of his life.
From fighter to statesman
Boxing legend turned Philippine senator Manny Pacquiao has accepted the nomination of the PDP-Laban-Pacquiao faction to run for president in the 2022 Philippine elections which will take place next May. During the faction's national assembly in Quezon City on Sunday, Pacquiao laid to rest months of anticipation by entering into perhaps his biggest fight ever outside of the boxing ring.
"I am a fighter and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring. In my whole life, I have not backed out of a fight. Because in the name of principle, the nation's pride, I stand reaffirmed and strong," Pacquiao stated during his acceptance speech.
A focus on poverty and corruption
Pacquiao, who came from poverty before becoming a legend of boxing, declared that the time had come to fight for the poor and eradicate poverty. Additionally he also made it clear that he intends to take on corruption within the government itself, saying those on wrong side of the law "are nearing imprisonment." "Your time is up! We gave you a chance, but you failed us. We waited for a long time, decades have passed, but nothing happened," Pacquiao stated.
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Pacquiao who is still an active boxer at 42 boasts some more than impressive career numbers (62-8-2, 39 KOs). His political credentials also deserve recognition as he has managed to forge a path alongside his exploits in the ring. He was elected congressman of Sarangani in 2010 and as a senator of the republic in 2016. Interestingly his future in boxing was not a topic of discussion at the nomination, nor did he disclose who would be his running mate. PDP-Laban, however, have given Pacquiao total liberty in selecting his vice president along with his cabinet.
The Opponents
In addition to the Pacquiao announcement, PDP-Laban's other faction nominated Senator Bong Go for president and current President Rodrigo Duterte for vice president. Go, however, refused the nomination, while Duterte stated his intention to run for vice president. According to Philippine law, a sitting president cannot seek reelection. Pacquiao is the second statesman officially declare intention to run for presidential office. Just recently, senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III announced that they were forming a partnership for president and vice president, respectively.