Pacquiao, Cusi faction talk hindered by Manny’s allies, Matibag claims

Some allies of Senator Manny Pacquiao are hindering the group of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi from communicating with the lawmaker, PDP-Laban secretary general Melvin Matibag claimed Thursday.

Matibag, part of the Cusi faction, made the statement when asked if Pacquiao has already decided on their offer to join the ruling party’s senatorial slate for the 2022 elections.

“We are awaiting for a response pero may pinaabot na po sa amin ang aming pinagsabihan na, Senator Manny wants to reflect, magpahinga, mag-reflect at mag-isip,” he said.

(We are awaiting for a response but the person we talked to said Senator Manny wants to rest, reflect, and think about the matter.)

“So sana nga po mag-isip siya nang hindi napapalibutan nung mga taong pumipigil para makapag-usap po kami. Mayroon po kasing mga tao na pumipigil para makausap namin kaya ngayon naniniwala kami na kaya hindi nakakarating ang tamang mensahe kay Sen. Manny Pacquiao,” he added.

(We hope that he will contemplate on this without the intervention of those who hinder him to talk with us. There are some people who block our communication and we believe that they are the reason why Senator Manny Pacquiao is not getting our message.)

Those who block their communication with Pacquiao were the ones who have “personal interests” in pushing the lawmaker-boxer to run for president, Matibag claimed.

“Mayroon dun nagsusulsol pa na gusto pa raw kaming ipakulong ni Sec. Cusi e (There are some who even tells him to jail us, Secretary Cusi and I),” he said.

Matibag said they are currently communicating to Pacquiao through two of the senator's close friends.

Despite this, Matibag is still hopeful that Pacquiao will consider their offer.

Matibag earlier said they are reaching out to Pacquiao's camp to ask the legislator to join the ruling party's senatorial lineup in Eleksyon 2022.

This development comes a month after Cusi's group ousted Pacquiao

Earlier in the day, Monico Puentevella, Pacquiao’s spokesperson, said the lawmaker will vie for the presidential post if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will be the administration’s “anointed one.”

Pacquiao is expected to finalize his decision whether to gun for the country’s top post or not in a month.

Sara, however, has yet to decide on her political plans for 2022. In July, she said  that she is open to seeking the country’s top post.

On Tuesday, the Cusi-led faction announced through a statement that President Rodrigo Duterte has agreed to run for vice president in the 2022 polls.

Malacañang on Thursday afternoon said Duterte has finalized his decision that he will gun for the vice presidency.—AOL, GMA News