Pacquiao to run for president if Sara will be admin’s ‘anointed one’ in Eleksyon 2022 — Puentevella

Senator Manny Pacquiao will run for president in Eleksyon 2022 if Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte will be the administration’s “anointed one,” the lawmaker’s spokesperson Monico Puentevella said Thursday.

“It’s not yet October 8 but if it is Sara who will be the anointed one, he will go for it,” Puentevella said in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Sara, however, has yet to decide on her political plans for 2022, although she said in July that she is open to seeking the presidency.

He also said that if Pacquiao decides to pursue a presidential run in 2022, his recent bout with Cuban boxer Yordenis Ugas would be his last.

“The only thing I know is, if he runs for president, maybe you have seen his last fight. If he decides not to run in one month, then he will fight again,” he said.

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

Puentevella also disclosed that Pacquiao will discuss the 2022 elections with Vice President Leni Robredo first once he comes back from the United States.

“After he comes back, we will talk to opposition leaders, the administration friends and leaders then he will decide with his political ambition,” he added.

Among the political personalities Pacquiao will discuss the 2022 elections with are Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Lacson and Sotto have already announced that they will run for president and vice president, respectively, in the upcoming elections.

No VP bid

Puentevella also set the record straight that Pacquiao is not considering a vice presidential bid in the 2022 polls.

“I’m sorry. Wala sa ulo niya ‘yan (He is not thinking about it). I want to clarify,” he said.

Pacquiao is still recovering in the United States after an upset loss to Ugas last Sunday (Saturday, US time).

He is expected to deal with political matters once he arrives in the country.

On Wednesday, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said their faction in the PDP-Laban is eyeing the nomination of Pacquiao as their standard bearer for Eleksyon 2022.

He said their faction will nominate Pacquiao during their national assembly tentatively set on September 18.

Pacquiao is also expected to deal with their political feud with the other PDP-Laban faction led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

The Cusi-led wing is pushing Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte to become their standard bearers for the upcoming polls. — RSJ, GMA News