Sen. Manny Pacquiao and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte – Carpio (FILE PHOTOS)
MANILA, Philippines — Although Senator Manny Pacquiao’s possible bid for the presidency in 2022 may divide the Mindanao vote, the Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) party claimed that Mindanao voters still prefer Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio over the senator.
“Yes, definitely, if Senator Pacquiao decides to run for president, that will affect the votes specifically in Mindanao. But again, we’ve already seen some surveys in Mindanao where most of the people in Mindanao favor Mayor Sara over Senator Pacquiao,” HNP Secretary-General Anthony Del Rosario said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.
“So, yes, it could divide the votes. But I don’t think it will be that significant. And hopefully we’ll be able to gain it in Luzon, in next year’s election,” he added.
Del Rosario said Duterte-Carpio will decide on her possible presidential bid in October, the start of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the upcoming elections.
Asked who he thinks is Duterte-Carpio’s “most threatening opponent,” Del Rosario said they consider “everybody” a threat including Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso and Vice President Leni Robredo.
“The surveys would show that the good mayor from Manila is a strong contender, nandyan rin po yung ating vice president as a possible contender,” Del Rosario said.
“At this point, everybody is a threat if you were to ask me. I can’t really choose which one in particular kasi lahat po sila, they are all threats as far as we are concerned,” he went on.
A Pulse Asia survey in December 2020 showed the Davao City mayor as the leading contender for the presidential race in the 2022 national elections.
Duterte-Carpio was followed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Senator Grace Poe, Moreno, Pacquiao, Robredo, and Senators Panfilo Lacson and Christopher “Bong” Go.