Pacquiao says won’t withdraw from 2022 presidential race: ‘Excuse me, I am a fighter’

FILE PHOTO: Senator Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday said there is no backing out of the 2022 presidential race, asserting his being a fighter as he was a world boxing champion prior to entering politics.

This pronouncement of Pacquiao comes after speculations that a presidential candidate will withdraw from the contest soon.

“Excuse me, ha. I am a fighter at walang atrasan ito. Wala sa bokabularyo ko ‘yang aatras para sa bayan,” he said in a media interview.

(Excuse me but I am a fighter and there will be no quitting on my part. There is no “quit” in my vocabulary.)

“Kung hindi nga ako umaatras para sa sarili ko, paano pa kaya ‘yung para sa bayan? Para maipaglaban ko ang sambayanang Pilipino,” he added.

(If I am not quitting for myself, how can I quit a fight for the nation, a fight for the Filipino people.)

Over the weekend, there were conjectures that a presidential candidate will bow out of the derby soon due to candidacy funding problems.

Pacquiao said he believes he has the support of many Filipinos although the January survey of Pulse Asia released on Sunday, February 13, showed he ranked third among presidential candidates garnering only 8 percent of adult respondents’ approval.

In an earlier statement, he said he remains “very optimistic” for his presidential bid as he continues to gain support in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Pacquaio kicked off his presidential campaign last week in his hometown General Santos City and went around Visayas and Mindanao.

This week, he said he will go around Luzon, including Metro Manila, Rizal, Laguna, and Central Luzon, for his campaign.

RELATED STORY

Pacquiao: ‘Corruption remains No. 1 problem in PH’

KGA