Philippine boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao has announced that he will run for president in 2022, vowing to tackle poverty and corruption as he seeks to win over voters with his rags-to-riches story. “Now is the time – we are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership,” Pacquiao – currently a senator – said on Sunday, as he accepted the nomination of a rival faction in President Rodrigo Duterte’s ruling party. The eight-division world champion and beloved national hero made the announcement weeks after he lost his last professional fight against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas. Pacquiao, who entered politics as a congressman before being elected to the Senate in 2010, has long been expected to vie for the nation’s highest office.
The 42-year-old is deeply admired by many in the archipelago nation for his generosity and his ability to lift himself out of poverty to become one of the world’s greatest and wealthiest boxers.
But his support for Duterte’s deadly drug war, and previous comments describing gay couples as “worse than animals,” have earned the high school drop-out plenty of detractors.
“For those who are asking what my qualifications are, have you ever experienced hunger?” Pacquiao asked at a national assembly organized by the anti-Duterte faction of the PDP-Laban.
“Have you ever felt like you have nothing to eat, to borrow money from your neighbors or to wait for leftovers at the food store? The Manny Pacquiao in front of you has fallen out of poverty.”
Pacquiao’s star power would put him in a strong position in the presidential race in a country famous for celebrity-obsessed politics.
But it will not guarantee victory.
Reaction to his announcement has been mixed, with some questioning the boxer’s suitability for the presidency.
“Seriously, Manny? You’re an inspiration for boxing but I can’t settle for you running my country.”
Public skirmishes between Pacquiao and Duterte over their handling of the South China Sea dispute with Beijing and official corruption could also undermine Boxer’s support.
Duterte – who is constitutionally allowed to serve only one term as president – rivals many Filipinos against Pacquiao and announced last month that he would run for vice-presidency.
A party faction loyal to Duterte also backed a close aide of the president, Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go, for the top post – but he has so far declined the nomination.
If Duterte’s daughter Sarah is to run for president, Pacquiao will face a formidable opponent, which he is set to do.
A recent poll shows the mayor of the city of Davao – who belongs to a different party to his father – with the most voter support, well ahead of Pacquiao and other potential contenders.
The last date to register as a candidate for the next year’s election is October 8.
deep division
Eurasia Group analyst Peter Mumford said the nominations of the two presidential candidates from the PDP-Laban showed “how deep the divisions are in the ruling party”.
“A critical view will be whether most of the anti-Duarte camp falls behind Pacquiao or whether it splits with many different presidential candidates,” Mumford said.
“The former would make Duterte’s succession plans a victory by making the last Duterte-backed candidate less confident.”
Pacquio, a devout evangelical Christian, was a high-profile supporter of Duterte and his controversial anti-narcotics campaign.
Judges of the International Criminal Court last week authorized a thorough investigation of the policy into the alleged unlawful killing of possibly tens of thousands of people.
Pacquiao told AFP in a recent interview that he would continue to act, but in an “appropriate manner” that does not abuse “the rights of individuals”.
Asked if he would protect the current president from criminal charges if he became leader, he said: “We are all bound by the law.”
read all breaking news, breaking news And coronavirus news Here
.