Gordon: Pacquiao wanted me to be his VP ‘up to the last minute’

Senator Richard Gordon EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Richard Gordon on Friday said “somebody” from the camp of presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao asked him “up to the last minute” to be the boxing champ’s running mate in the 2022 polls.

But Gordon declined this offer, saying he has “perished that thought” of running in the 2022 elections for now.

“Believe this or not, I have perished that thought at the moment. People come here [in my office]. Somebody from Mr. Pacquiao came here yesterday—a good friend of mine—up to the last minute, he wanted me to be his vice president, sabi ko ‘Wala sa isip ko yan’ [I said, ‘That’s not on my mind’],” Gordon said in an ANC interview.

According to Gordon, he is focused on the investigation he is leading in the Senate on the government’s controversial transactions with Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corp.

“Ang nasa isip ko, itong imbestigasyon [What I’m focused on is the investigation],” he said.

Earlier Friday, Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy for president with House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, who also formalized his bid as the senator’s vice presidential candidate.

READ: Atienza is Pacquiao’s VP for 2022

VP for another presidential bet?

Asked if he would instead consider running in tandem with another presidential candidate, Gordon answered: “You’re right.”

“But we have not talked yet and we might talk anytime soon,” he added but stressed he does not want to talk about the elections for now.

“Sasabihin na naman ng ibang tao na ginagawa ko lang ito para sa politika, I’ve been in politics and I’ve always run on my own record and my record is clear and I stand by that,” he added.

(People will say I am doing the investigation because of politics. I’ve been in politics and I’ve always run on my own record and my record is clear and I stand by that.)

Gordon earlier said he is looking into the possibility of running for the presidency in next year’s elections but he has not confirmed if he will push through with this plan.

READ: ‘I’m a Michael Jordan on the bench,’ says Gordon of possible presidential bid

“To tell you the truth I am really nahihirapan because my family, I’m not under pressure from my wife—but last night we talked about it again, talagang nahihirapan kami dahil itong mga ginagawa ay talagang hindi na maganda sa ating bayan,” the senator said.

(To tell you the truth I am really nahihirapan because my family, I’m not under pressure from my wife—but last night we talked about it again, we are really struggling because of the bad things happening to our country.)

“At ang tagal tagal na namin ring nagsisilbi [We have served for a long time]. We have been effective in Olongapo, we have brought jobs in Subic, we have saved our people from Pinatubo, from floods, we lifted tourism and we have saved many people in the Red Cross,” added Gordon. He is the chairman of the Philippine Red Cross.

“And I’m doing my work in the senate,” Gordon also said.