‘God’s anointment’ is clincher for Pacquiao’s presidential run

MANILA, Philippines — What would make Senator Manny Pacquiao run for president in 2022?

Pacquiao, who just had his party for his 42nd birthday at the height of the government’s call for the public to refrain from holding social gatherings, said in an interview that he would consider “God’s anointment” a clincher for him to consider a presidential run.

“Yung anointing ng Panginoon… Importante yung anointing ng Panginoon dahil ang tao gustong tumakbo dyan o anong position gustong tumakbo, pero kailangan may anointing ng Panginoon dahil without His anointing wala tayong magagawa,” he told ABS-CBN News Channel.

(God’s anointment is important because any person who wants to run for a post needs God’s anointing  because without His anointing, we can’t  do anything.)

Pacquiao initially deflected questions about his political plans when reminded of President Rodrigo Duterte’s previous remark that he would like the senator to become president.

“Sabi ko sa kanya one time… kami lang dalawa nag-usap, ‘Gusto kita gawing presidente,’ (I told him while we were alone, I want you to become president),” Duterte said in 2017. “Alam mo, kaya mo (You can do it).”

While thanking the President for his “kind words,” Pacquiao said that the presidency needs God’s anointment.

“Kung wala namang anointing ng Panginoon ay hindi ka pwedeng maging presidente. Marami nang dumanas ng ganyan, pag hindi inaprub ng Panginoon at hindi ka anointed ng Panginoon e hindi ka  magiging presidente, so kailangan,” he said.

(You can’t be president without God’s anointing. Many have experienced that if you don’t have His anointing, then you can’t be president, so that’s necessary)

“Pero sa ngayon, sabihin ko sayo wala sa isip ko pa yang ganyang pamumulitika sa ngayon. Gusto kong  pag usapan muna natin kung ano yung problema ngayon ng ating bansa, problema kung paano tayo makatulong pa sa mas maraming tao,” he further claimed.

(But I’m telling you, politicking is not on my mind now. Let’s talk first about the problems of our country, and how we can help more people)

Pacquiao is now the president of the ruling PDP-Laban being chaired by Duterte.

EDV