Koko confident Pacquiao’s ‘convincing power’ to carry PDP-Laban bets

Senator Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, president of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), has expressed confidence that neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao’s “influence” will lead the ruling political party to victory in the 2019 mid-term elections.

Pimentel confirmed that the boxing champion-turned-politician will be the PDP-Laban’s national campaign manager, replacing party vice chair and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.

“Yes, Sen. Pacquiao is PDP LABAN NCM,” he said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“Well known and respected, organized, extensive network, influential, etc. all the right reasons to tap him are there,” he said of Pacquiao.

Pacquiao is a first-termer senator. He won in the 2016 national polls.

So far, PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate include Pimentel, Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, former Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino, and Maguindanao 2nd district Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu. /jpv

RELATED STORY

Pimentel: PDP-Laban candidates for 2019 polls must back federalism