Pacquiao says he’s determined to run for president, rejects calls for Robredo-Pacquiao tandem

Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday declared he is determined to run for president and now rejects the idea of withdrawing his candidacy to become Vice President Leni Robredo’s running mate for Eleksyon 2022.

“Buo na po yung pasya ko. Tuloy na tuloy po ako; hindi po ako umaatras sa laban. Hindi po ako aatras sa aking kandidatura bilang pangulo dahil alam ko na malaki magagawa ko para sa ating bayan. Tunay na pagbabago ang gusto kong gawin sa ating bansa na hindi puro pampupulitika,” the senator said during an online meeting at Rotary Club of Manila on Thursday.

(My decision is complete. I will continue my candidacy and I will not back down from the fight. I will not back down from my candidacy as president because I know that I can do a lot for our country. I really want to make a real change in our country that is not purely political.)

Pacquiao earlier said that he was not discounting the possibility of teaming up with Robredo for the upcoming polls as long as the period of substitution is open.

The Vice President's camp, meanwhile, said that the only tandem it is focusing on is that of Robredo and her running mate, Senator Francis Pangilinan. 

"The only tandem we have been focused on since Oct 8 has been the Robredo-Pangilinan tandem. We have always assumed that Senator Pacquiao has been similarly focused on his own candidacy. We wish him all the best," her spokesperson Barry Gutierrez told GMA News Online.

'Halimbawa at inspirasyon'

Pacquiao said he is seeking the public’s vote to serve the country, not for his own personal gain. He also said he wants to be an inspiration for public service apart from being a world-boxing champion.

“Habang nabubuhay pa sa mundo gusto kong maging halimbawa at inspirasyon sa lahat ng mga tao hindi lang sa lamang sa mga Pilipino kundi sa buong mundo,” Pacquiao said.

(While I am still alive in the world, I want to be an example and inspiration to all people not only among the Filipinos but from all over the world.)

“Nagawa ko ‘yan sa larangan ng boxing, dito sa pagseserbisyo gusto kong gawin din yan na maging inspirasyon sa ating mga kababayan pagdating sa public service,” he added.

(I did that in the field of boxing, I also want to be an inspiration to our fellow countrymen when it comes to public service.)

The senator filed his certificate of candidacy for president on October 1, with Buhay Party-list Representative Lito Atienza as his running mate.

He said he will run under the PROMDI (Probinsiya Muna Development Initiative) party and not PDP-Laban due to the ongoing infightin between his faction and that led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, to which Duterte is aligned. — BM, GMA News