Photo from PROMDI
MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao received a boost in his presidential bid anew after the Progressive Movement for the Devolution of Initiative or Promdi, the national political party founded by former Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña, officially nominated him as the group’s presidential candidate for all “promdis,” a moniker used for Filipinos living in the provinces.
In a kickoff ceremony at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City, Pacquiao was named as Promdi’s standard-bearer of the party after the PDP-Laban faction led by the boxing champ and Senator Koko Pimentel forged an alliance with them.
Promdi’s approval of Pacquiao as their nominated president for the 2022 polls came a week after the senator also accepted his nomination as the presidential candidate of their PDP-Laban wing.
“I was nominated by PDP Laban, tinanggap ko ‘yun. I was nominated by Promdi, tinatanggap ko rin. Tumatakbo ako para maging Presidente ng Pilipinas, para sa bayan. Kailangan ko magkaroon ng alyansa sa mga partido na kapareho ko ang pananaw para maisulong ang kapakanan ng bayan,” Pacquiao said.
“Kung tanungin ninyo, ako ay PDP-Laban. Kung tanungin ninyo, Promdi ako. Pero ang pinaka-importante ay Pilipino ako na nais matiyak na tayo ay magiging malakas ang laban sa darating na halalan,” he also said.
Photo from PROMDI
Osmena’s son Mimo, said his father’s party has chosen Pacquiao as their standard-bearer because the boxing-legend-turned-legislator represents the dreams and aspirations of all “promdis.”
Pacquiao was also deemed as the “perfect candidate” by Promdi because the senator is an advocate of “reverse migration” which requires the government to refocus development and create more economic opportunities in the provinces to encourage people who have moved to Metro Manila to return to their places of origin.
In accepting his nomination, Pacquaio paid tribute to Gov. Osmeña whom he described as visionary and one who “presented the blueprint for the country’s true progress which is, to empower the provinces so these can be financially capable and can contribute substantially to the country’s economic growth.”
Pacquiao said his nomination by Promdi is a reaffirmation of his position that national development must begin in the provinces and economic opportunities must be shared by all Filipinos.
Photo from PROMDI
“Ako po si Manny Pacquiao ay pinalad lang po sa aking narating. Hindi lahat ng promdi na dumayo sa Kamaynilaan ay pinalad tulad natin. Kaya ang nais ko , matupad ang pangarap ng mga tulad kong promdi . Yung hindi na po lalayo sa probinsya at mga mahal sa buhay dahil ang trabaho at pag-asa ng maginhawang buhay nandiyan lang sa kaniyang probinsiya,” he said.
PDP-Labanspokesperson Ron Munsayac says Promdi’s support will strengthten the presidential aspirations of Pacquiao.
“Forging an alliance with Promdi is not abandoning PDP-Laban but reinforcing our strength in our presidential bid. Rest assured the principles of PDP Laban will not be compromised. It will be upheld in our journey.”