Pacquiao keeps Zubiri in Senate slate even after raising Bongbong's hand

Presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao would continue supporting the reelection bid of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri even after Zubiri raised the hand of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., another presidential candidate, in Bukidnon.

Pacquiao said this during his campaign sortie in Caloocan on Wednesday, pointing out that he wants to ensure that Mindanao and the Visayas will be represented in the Senate.

Zubiri, whose family hails from Bukidnon, is a guest senatorial candidate under Pacquiao's ticket.

Pacquiao said Zubiri’s representation in the Senate on behalf of the Visayan-speaking community outweighs his personal feelings.

"Gusto ko manalo naman iyan dahil Mindanaoan. Ang intensyon ko hindi ito pangsarili kundi ang interest ng ating bayan. Hanggang walang development na mangyayari sa Mindanao, huwag kayo mag-isip na magiging payapa ang Mindanao," he said.

(I want him to win because he's a Mindanaoan. My intention is not for myself but for the people. Unless there's development in Mindanao, don't ever think there will be peace there.)

"Kung personal ang interest ko sa buhay, magagalit ako. Ang gusto ko lang magkaroon ng representante ang Mindanao," he added.

(If my interest for running is personal, I would get mad at him. However, all I want is to have Mindanao represented.)

For raising Marcos' hand, Zubiri was removed from Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III's lineup of senatorial candidates they are supporting in the May 9 elections.

Like Marcos and Pacquiao, Lacson is also seeking the presidency in the upcoming polls.

The Lacson-Sotto tandem earlier stressed that the senatorial candidates would enjoy their endorsement as long as they would not "openly" endorse other presidential and vice presidential candidates. —Giselle Ombay/KBK, GMA News