Pacquiao challenges ‘solid north’ claim: Many prefer real change

Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday challenged the claim that voters from northern Luzon strongly support the presidential bid of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., saying many prefer other candidates.

"Ang akin naman ay democratic country naman tayo. Ang lahat ay malayang pumili ng mga kandidato nila. Alam ko po hindi naman lahat doon kay BBM [Bongbong Marcos Jr.]. Mayroon namang talagang naghahangad ng tunay na pagbabago, hindi naghahangad para sa traditional government," Pacquiao said in a media briefing during his campaign in Cauayan, Isabela.

(We are a democratic country. All are free to choose their candidate. What I know is that not all people from the north support BBM. Others truly aspire for real change and not another traditional government.)

"Hindi ko akalain na ganito ang mga sumasalubong sa akin. Alam ko marami pa rin akong supporters dito sa norte. Naniniwala ako na marami pa ring Pacquiao fans dito," he added.

(I did not expect the warm welcome of the people from Isabela, I know I still have supporters here in the north. I believe there are still a lot of Pacquiao fans here.)

When asked by reporters on what he meant by a "traditional government" under Marcos Jr., Pacquiao said the Marcoses had allegedly been selective in helping Filipinos.

"Ang akin lang po kasi, kung ako ang nakaupo sa gobyerno nang matagal na at may power ako, may kakayahan ako na i-develop ang lalawigan ay matagal na. Matagal na po. Ang akin lang is, huwag tayo mamili ng tutulungan natin. Bakit, ngayon lang ba sila pumasok sa politika?"

(For me, if I were seated in government for a long time and I have the power, I have the capability to develop my province. But what I'm pointing out is we should not choose whom will we help. Have they joined politics just recently?)

"Ang akin lang naman ay hindi ako nakikipag-away sa kaniya. Ang hinihiling ko lang sa taumbayan, si Manny Pacquiao pagbibigyan niyo ng pagkakataon at makikita niyo ang kaibahan sa ilang dekadang lumipas sa magagawa ni Manny Pacquiao sa loob ng anim na taon," he added.

(I am not picking a fight with Marcos. What I only ask from the people is to give Manny Pacquiao a chance and they will see the difference between the past decades and what Manny Pacquiao will do in six years.)

At the same media briefing, Pacquiao bared the inclusion of former Makati District 1 representative Monsour del Rosario in his Senate slate.

"Gusto ko ring isama si Monsour del Rosario. Para may mag-represent sa sports sa Senado," he said.

(I wanted to include Monsour del Rosario in my Senate slate, so that sports could be represented in the Senate.)

Other senatorial aspirants under Pacquiao's slate are Raffy Tulfo, Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, Governor Chiz Escudero, former Senator JV Ejercito, Senator Joel Villanueva, Senator Win Gatchalian, Senator Richard Gordon, and former Eastern Samar governor Lutgardo Barbo. — BM, GMA News