Presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao visits a far-flung barangay in Buenavista town, Bohol province on Thursday, April 21, to meet with his supporters. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)
TAGBILARAN CITY — Presidential candidate and Senator Manny Pacquiao on Thursday asked Boholanos to stop comparing him to other presidential candidates.
“Dili ko puwede ikumpara sa mga pulitiko nga kawatan (Don’t compare me with those corrupt politicians),” said Pacquiao during his visit in a remote sitio of Pundokan Rowena Heights in Barangay Anonang in Buenavista town.
Although he didn’t names, Pacquiao said those thieves were the reasons the Filipinos remain poor.
“Ngano nagpabilin tang pobre tungod kay sige sila pangawat (We remain poor because they keep stealing),” Pacquiao told at least 3,000 attendees who are members of Simbahan Ni Teodorico and Visayas Federal Movement headed by Bishop Romeo Melecio Jr.
Pacquiao also shared about his housing project that he wished to immediately implement if he wins the presidency.
“Akong pangandoy nga ang tanang pamilya sa tubuok Pilipinas dili puwede nga wala kapuy-an nga balay (My wish is that all families across the Philippines would no longer be homeless),” Pacquiao said.
He echoed the same message when he visited Tubigon town with a crowd of at least 2,000. In Cortes town, he had to speak to 1,000 supporters about his platforms.
Pacquiao’s townhall visits in Bohol only pulled out small crowd compared to rallies he held in other provinces.
On Friday, Pacquiao visited local radio stations to present his platforms. He also paid a courtesy call to Gov. Art Yap and Mayor Baba Yap.
The latest Bohol Poll Survey 2022 revealed that Pacquiao was second in voters’ preference for president in the province. He got 18 percent next to former Senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. with 52 percent. Vice President Leni Robredo had 17%. The survey was conducted last Feb. 28 to March 22, 2022.
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