Boxing icon Pacquiao files candidacy for president with Atienza in his corner
MANILA, Philippines (Updated 10:10 a.m.) — Days after announcing his retirement from boxing, Sen. Manny Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy for president in the 2022 national elections.
Pacquiao's wife Jinkee accompanied him upon filing his candidacy before the Commission on Elections on the first day of filing on Friday.
The presidential aspirant filed his candidacy along with Rep. Lito Atienza (Buhay Party-list), who will be his running mate.
A faction of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), led by the boxer-turned-senator himself, earlier nominated Pacquiao as their standard bearer for the 2022 polls.
The other wing, led by Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, nominated Senator Bong Go and President Rodrigo Duterte as their presidential and vice presidential candidates, respectively.
Pacquiao filed his candicacy with the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiative (PROMDI), a party founded by former Cebu Governor Lito Osmeña.
Pacquiao on Thursday announced he is quitting boxing, the sports that gave him “the chance to fight my way out poverty” and “the courage to change more lives.”
As he sets his sights on presidency, Pacquaio has vowed to tackle poverty and corruption.
In a survey released by Pulse Asia this week, Pacquaio ranked fourth among potential candidates for president, with 12% said they would vote for him. Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte led the survey.
“Survey is just a number. The voices of small people, those who are suffering have yet to be heard,” he said in Filipino when he filed his candidacy.
Pacquiao served as a congressman of Sarangani province for two terms and was then elected for a six-term in the Senate in 2016.
The filing of COC will be from October 1 to 8.
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