Former senator Manny Pacquiao will stage a comeback in next year’s elections as part of the administration’s slate.
Pacquiao also said he will run under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP).
Mr. Marcos earlier introduced Pacquiao as “magbabalik na senador” when he acknowledged the former eight-division world boxing champ at the distribution of financial aid to fisherfolk and farmers in General Santos City.
Pacquiao said his political party—PROMDI—will form an alliance with the PFP.
The former senator ran for president in 2022 but lost, placing third with 3.6 million votes. In the previous elections, he was part of the splinter group of PDP-Laban which separated from the bloc allied with then-President Rodrigo Duterte.
The alliance aims to strengthen their respective platforms and widen their reach among voters, Pacquiao said.
“I fully support the government’s administration programs for countryside development. It is crucial to prioritize the development of our provinces and rural areas, ensuring that every Filipino has access to opportunities and basic services,” Pacquiao said.
Through sustainable and inclusive development, the former senator said “we can uplift the lives of our fellow countrymen and build a stronger, more prosperous nation for all.”
He said his inclusion in the administration’s ticket will add “a significant boost to the ruling party’s lineup.”
Pacquiao earlier welcomed the President at the said event in General Santos City. Pacquiao had expressed his commitment to serving the Filipino people, highlighting his advocacy for sports development, anti-corruption measures, and social welfare programs.
Pacquiao was elected senator in 2016. In 2020, he was elected President of the then-ruling PDP–Laban party which recently dropped Laban from its party name.
