Pacquiao summons brother over reported support for Sara Duterte

Presidential aspirant Senator Manny Pacquiao on Tuesday said he summoned his brother, Sarangani Rep. Ruel Pacquiao, over the latter's alleged support for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte’s vice presidential bid.

Pacquiao is running for president alongside his running mate Buhay party-list Representative Lito Atienza.

“I have already summoned my brother Ruel to personally explain the truth behind the press release issued by Lakas-CMD claiming that he and Sarangani Governor Steve Solon have thrown their support for Mayor Sara Duterte,” Pacquiao said in a statement Tuesday.

He claimed that he was not consulted about the matter and he would require his brother to explain Lakas-CMD’s claim.

“Bilang pamilya at bilang magkapatid ay kailangan naming magkaisa upang matiyak na tuloy-tuloy ang labang Pacquaio-Atienza,” Pacquiao said.

[As a family and as brothers, we need to unite to push for the Pacquiao-Atienza candidacy.] 

In the same statement, Pacquiao stressed his support for Atienza as his vice presidential bet.

“Matagal na po ang aming pinagsamahan at hindi ito mabubuwag o mababago ng pulitika. Naniniwala po ako  na siya ay napakagaling at napakahusay na lider na karadapat-dapat na mahalal bilang pangalawang pangulo,” he said.

[We have been working together for a long time and politics could not change this. I believe that he is a great leader and he is worthy to be elected as vice president of the country.]

On Monday, Lakas-CMD issued a press statement, claiming that Duterte met Ruel in Davao City.

Ruel was with Sarangani Governor Steve Solon and mayors from several towns in the province.

Lakas-CMD said Ruel, Solon, and the mayors went to Davao City to express their support for Duterte’s vice presidential bid.

“The expression of support is deeply appreciated, and it affirmed the essence of the unity that the UniTeam has been trying to espouse among political parties — as a way to achieve the common goals that the UniTeam has for our country and the Filipinos,” the statement read.

The political party also said that Duterte’s running-mate, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. was informed about the meeting with the Sarangani officials. —NB, GMA News