Pacquiao hopeful poor will deliver his win in Eleksyon 2022

TANGUB City, Misamis Occidental —Unbothered by endorsements for his rival presidential candidates, Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said voters from the poor segments of society will deliver his win in Eleksyon 2022.

"Alam mo dito sa eleksyon na ito 'yung mga politician, 'yung mga nasa position, iba ang sinusuportahan, nagkakaisa sila, iba ang sinusuportahan. 'Yung mga malalaking company iba ang sinusuportahan. Pero 'yung mga mahihirap iba naman ang sinusuportahan. At 'yung mga mahihirap alam ko kay Manny Pacquiao nakasuporta," Pacquiao said in a media briefing.

Pacquiao was asked to comment on the recent endorsement of the provincial political party in Cebu of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

Pacquiao said he does not negotiate with incumbent officials for support to avoid instances of these officials asking favors if he is elected president.

"Hindi ako masyadong nakikiusap sa mga incumbent na sumuporta sa akin dahil baka singilin ako pagdating ng panahon. Ang akin ay war against corruption, dito ko ipapakita sa taumbayan na ang bansa natin may pagbabago, ang bansa natin may bagong liwanag," he said.

Lutgardo Barbo, one of Pacquiao's senatorial candidate, claimed that the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiatives or PROMDI, a Cebu-based political party, backs Pacquiao's presidential bid.

"Puwede nating sabihin na dapat nating iboto si Manny hindi lang dahil Bisaya siya, kundi sa tingin namin may capability siya at kapani-paniwala at mayroong record na hindi nagnakaw at hindi magnanakaw at hindi nagsisinungaling," he said.

Barbo lashed out anew at Marcos Jr., saying the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos is a "registered and judicially-recognized" criminal.

"Bakit sinasabi kong criminal? Kasi dinemanda, nilitis at hinusgahan na kriminal siya. At saka ipinagmamalaki pa na hindi nagbabayad ng buwis noong gobernador siya noong 82, 83, 84, 85," said Barbo, who sits as vice chairman of the PDP-Laban faction led by Pacquiao.

"Maling liderato 'yan. Ang isang liderato kailangan magpapakita na dapat [siyang ]sundin. Eh papaano kung hindi tayo lahat magbayad ng buwis? Eh 'di patay ang bayan natin," Barbo added.

GMA News Online has sought the camp of Marcos Jr. for comment but it has yet to reply as of posting time.

Pacquiao continued with his presidential campaign this week in Mindanao, wooing the residents of Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental and Zamboanga del Sur.

Pacquiao on Wednesday laid out his platform for the country to Tangub City residents in Misamis Occidental, before proceeding to Pagadian City in Zamboanga del Sur where he led a motorcade and a people's rally in Plaza Luz.

Senator Manny Pacquiao mainit na sinalubong ng mga taga-Tangub sa Tangub City Sports Complex sa Misamis Occidental habang inilalatag niya ang kaniyang mga plataporma para sa bayan, lalo sa mga mahihirap. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/92Dh374STV

— Jamil Santos (@Jamil_Santos02) April 13, 2022

 —LDF, GMA News