Pacquiao ready to run as independent bet in Eleksyon 2022 –Munsayac

Senator Manny Pacquiao is ready to run as an independent candidate in the coming national elections, PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac said Monday.

In a virtual interview with reporters, Munsayac was asked if Pacquiao was considering running as an independent candidate should the Commission on Elections (Comelec) recognize the faction of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi as the legitimate PDP-Laban party.

"Yes, ready po siya kasi po ganyan po katibay ang prinsipyo ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao," Munsayac said.

(He is ready. He is that principled.)

Though it has been reported that Pacquiao will run for president in the coming elections, he has yet to make a formal announcement regarding his political plans.

The Comelec is set to decide on which faction, Pacquiao or Cusi's, would be recognized as the legitimate PDP-Laban party.

The two factions have been trying to wrest control of the party ahead of the 2022 elections by unilaterally electing their own members to leading party roles.

Munsayac admitted that a lot of political parties have expressed support for Pacquiao, but he said the boxer-senator is firm in his decision to not leave PDP-Laban.

"So, sinasabi niya po sa amin, kay Sen. Pimentel at sa ibang leaders ng partido namin na, ‘Ron, Koko, I will not leave PDP-Laban. Ipaglaban natin ito kasi sa mga miyembro ito eh, ipaglaban natin ito,'" Munsayac said.

(He told us and other PDP-Laban leaders that he will not leave the party. He wants to fight for the members.)

"Napamahal na po siya sa prinsipyo, ideolohiya at sa nakita niya po 'yung suporta ng mga miyembro namin sa kanya so he will not leave the PDP-Laban no matter what the consequences are," he added.

(He is standing by the party's principles and ideologies. He also witnessed the support of the members to him so he will not leave the PDP-Laban no matter what the consequences are.)

— DVM, GMA News