MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao made his presidential bid official Sunday during the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) 11th National Assembly.
During the party’s “hybrid” assembly held in Libis, Quezon City, Pacquiao accepted his nomination as the PDP-Laban’s presidential standard-bearer, according to a statement released the same day.
In accepting his nomination, Pacquiao vowed to launch a sweeping crackdown against corruption and that he is “rising up to the challenge of leadership” so that he can bring real reforms that would uplift the lives of Filipinos, especially the poor.
“Buong puso, buong tapang, at kababaang loob ay umaasa po ako sa inyong suporta, may dalangin ng gabay sa panginoon, tinatanggap ko po ang inyong nominasyon bilang kandidato ng pagkapangulo ng Pilipinas,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao added that he decided to accept the PDP-Laban’s nomination to fulfill the people’s aspiration for true government reforms, honest and transparent governance, and genuine public service, stressing that the people are already tired of unfulfilled promises.
The lawmaker also slammed what he calls “attempts to destroy the PDP-Laban by some people with selfish interests, and promised that he will not back down to fight all attempts to bring him down.”
“I am a fighter and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring. Sa buong buhay ko wala akong laban na inatrasan. Dahil sa ngalan ng prinsipyo, karangalan ng bayan ay tumatayo ako, naninindigan at nakikipaglaban,” he said.
“Dito mismo sa loob ng sarili kong Partido, ang PDP Laban na aking tinanggap, kinalinga at ipinagtanggol, ay pilit akong binubuwag ng ilan sa ngalan ng pansariling interes at politika,” he added.
The statement said the “hybrid” assembly was attended physically by select key officials and through zoom in hundreds of chapter locations nationwide.
Pacquiao also vowed to fight corruption and send every single corrupt government official to jail.
“Sa mga nanunungkulan sa ating pamahalaan na patuloy na nagsasamantala at nagnanakaw sa kaban ng bayan,… malapit na kayong magsama-sama sa kulungan,” he said.
“Your time is up! Binigyan namin kayo ng pagkakataon, nguni’t kami ay inyong binigo. Naghintay po kami ng mahabang panahon, ilang dekada na ang lumipas…pero wala ding nangyari,” the Senator added.
The statement also mentioned that apart from taking a hardline campaign against corruption, Pacquiao also vowed to “serve our people with integrity, compassion, and transparency.”
Meanwhile, PDP-Laban Spokesman and Executive Director Ron Munsayac said that the party also issued a resolution “to ignore and disregard all resolutions and actions” of the group of Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and National Transmission Corporation President Melvin Matibag.
The party members also elected their new set of officers for the national council.
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