Sen. Manny Pacquiao waves to supporters during one of his visits to different provinces, like this one in Laguna on Dec. 7, 2021. (Photo from his Facebook page)
MANILA, Philippines — Presidential candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he will retain reelectionist Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri in his senatorial slate despite the latter’s open support for the presidential bid of his opponent, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Pacquiao said that even though Zubiri openly backed and raised the hand of Marcos during a campaign sortie in Bukidnon, he still wants the reelectionist senator to win in the May 9 polls so that Mindanao would have a representative.
“Gusto ko naman manalo rin naman yan dahil Mindanaoan. Ang intention ko, hindi ito pang personalan, kumbaga para sa interes ng taumbayan,” he told reporters in a press briefing in Caloocan City.
(I want him to win because he’s from Mindanao. My intention is, this is not for personal interest but for the interest of the public.)
“Ang gusto ko lang, magkaroon ng representative ang ating Mindanao kasi gusto ko talaga ng development sa Visayas and Mindanao,” Pacquiao added.
(What I want is Mindanao to have a representative because I want development there.)
He said he will just let Zubiri be if he wants to endorse another presidential candidate.
The tandem of Senator Panfilo Lacson and Senate President Vicente Sotto III is has dropped Zubiri from their senatorial slate due to his support for Marcos Jr.