Ex-Pacquiao backers shift support to Isko Moreno ahead of Eleksyon 2022

Members of MP Nation, a volunteer group which backed Senator Manny Pacquiao’s presidential campaign, on Tuesday announced their shift of support to Manila Mayor Isko Moreno's candidacy.

In a statement, Col. Dani Enriquez, the lead convenor of MP Nation, said its executive committee members decided to leave the senator’s presidential bid  due to the PDP-Laban intramurals.

“MP Nation is now IM4P or Isko Moreno For President Movement., We will always love and thank Senator Pacquiao for what he has done for the country, and would have wanted the two of them (Moreno and Pacquiao) to be in one ticket,” Enriquez said in a statement.

“But we must admit that the infighting of PDP-Laban, has caused much damage and backlog to Senator Manny’s campaign,” he added.

While claiming that it was a “collegial decision” of their executive committee members, Enriquez said there were other members of MP Nation who opted not to follow.

“Mayor Isko has already shown us the blue print to bring the Philippines back on its feet with his fight against the pandemic as well as all the projects and programs he has undertaken in such a short span of time as mayor of Manila,” Enriquez said while hoping for a possible tandem of Moreno and Pacquiao.

Pacquiao’s camp welcomed Enriquez’s announcement calling it “good riddance” as they accused the latter of moneymaking schemes by using the lawmaker’s name.

“We are relieved that Mr. Dani Enriquez has made this announcement that he and his group are no longer connected with the camp of Senator Manny Pacquiao,” Pacquiao's campaign manager Buddy Zamora said in a statement.

“Mr. Enriquez is an impostor who tried to wiggle himself into Senator Manny Pacquiao’s campaign team for money-making schemes but was immediately exposed and cut off upon discovery of his real motive,” he added.

According to Zamora, Enriquez was already “blocked” from conducting businesses related to Pacquiao’s presidential campaign even before the switch of support to Moreno’s candidacy.

In  a report on "24 Oras", Enriquez denied the allegation.

“In the last meeting that he attended, he was severely castigated for his scheming ways and was ordered to stop representing the senator,” Zamora  said, adding that Enriquez’s departure won’t affect their campaign.

“MP Nation is a sham that was created by Mr. Enriquez to justify fund-raising schemes not just from Senator Pacquiao but also from businessmen who are potential campaign donors,” he added. -NB, GMA News