It's official: Manny Pacquaio is running for president in 2022
Senator Manny Pacquaio is officially running for president in the 2022 national elections.
The boxing icon formally accepted the nomination for the bid during his PDP-Laban faction's national assembly on Sept. 19. He co-leads the faction with Sentor Aquilino "Koko" Pimintel III.
"I am a fighter, and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring," he said during the national assembly.
"Sa buong buhay ko, wala akong laban na inaatrasan dahil sa ngalan ng prinsipyo, karangalan ng bayan ay tumayo ako, nanindigan at nakikipaglaban," the boxing hall of famer said.
Pacquiao said that he will run on an anti-corruption platform.
"Sa mga nanunungkulan sa ating pamahalaan na patuloy na nagsasamantala at nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan, malapit na kayong magsama-sama sa kulungan," he remarked. "Your time is up."
Earlier in the year, the PDP-Laban party split into two factions after Pacquiao expressed that he will not support President Rodrigo Duterte's bid for vice president. The rift escalated as the 42-year-old boxer challenged Duterte's position on China and record on fighting corruption. He was voted out as the ruling party's leader afterward.
The other faction, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, endorsed Senator Bong Go and Duterte as their presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively. Go declined the nomination, while Duterte accepted.
Pacquiao is the second politician to confirm his bid for presidency, with Senator Panfilo Lacson launching his campaign last Sept. 8.
Thumbnail and banner photos by Ted Aljibe/AFP.