Pacquiao prefers Duterte over LP, UNA

MANILA, Philippines – Saranggani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao prefers to be part of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte’s senatorial lineup, according to Senate President Franklin Drilon.

“Pag tumakbo po si Mayor Rodrigo Duterte ay doon po siya tatakbo as a member of the Senate slate,” Drilon said on Monday.

Pacquiao was a prospective senatorial bet of the Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) and is still mulling which party to join. However, in a radio interview with dzMM on Saturday, the former boxing champion said if Duterte will run for president, he prefers to run with him as it will be embarrassing if he will support others when they are both from Mindanao.

“Nanghihingi pa ako ng advice sa ibang tao kung anong dapat gawin dahil siyempre kung susuporta ako sa iba and Duterte is running – he is from Mindanao… [people will ask] 'Why don't you support a Mindanaoan?” Pacquiao said in the radio interview.

''If Duterte runs - he is from Mindanao - it's kind of an embarrassment sa kanya na hindi ako mag-suporta sa kanya kung sakaling tumakbo siya,'' he said.

Pacquiao said party-lists wooing him to join their slate are fair and so his camp is also studying his decision.

''Lahat naman sila ay balanced. They are talking to me, kumbaga pinag-aaralan ko rin ng mabuti,” Pacquiao said.

Reports said the Saranggani representative formerly seen supporting UNA did not respond in an interview last October 7 when asked if he will join the opposition party.

Based on a senatorial lineup released by Duterte’s ally, Emmanuel Piñol, on Wednesday, Pacquiao is included in Duterte’s senatorial slate. However, the mayor on Monday again denied rumors that he is running for president.

Pacquiao announced his senatorial bid during his state of the district address on October 5.