Despite April Pulse Asia survey, Pacquiao hoping a come-from-behind win
Senator Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Even though placing only third in preferred presidential bets in the April Pulse Asia survey, candidate Senator Manny Pacquiao on Monday said he is still seeing a “come-from-behind” win in the May 9 elections.
He said he expects a win like that of President Rodrigo Duterte when he won a landslide victory in the 2016 elections even though he is also a third-placer in pre-election surveys.
Pacquiao said he is confident he will get at least 20 million votes in the elections, making a “historic victory” as the first Filipino president who has come from the masses.
“Nasa puso ko nararamdaman ko ang reaksyon ng taumbayan lalo na kasama ko kayo. Nasaksihan ninyo, na-witness ninyo ‘yung pagbisita ko doon sa Northern Samar, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, sa Leyte… Nakita niyo ‘yung tao na hindi ako naghakot , hindi ako nagtawag,” he said.
(It’s in my heart. I can feel the reaction of the people. You saw when I visited Northern Samar, Western Samar, Eastern Samar, Leyte.. You can see the number of people there.)
“Wala akong patubig sa kanila, wala nga akong pameryenda sa kanila eh. Ang mga tao mula 3 in the afternoon na naghihintay na dumating tapos nakarating ako sa layo 10:30 in the evening, andoon pa rin,” he added.
(I did not have any water for them nor snacks. They went there at 3 p.m. and they waited there until I arrived at about 10:30 p.m.)
In Eastern Visayas, Pacquiao said that people showed up to show their support despite heavy rains.
“Ramdam ko sa puso ko na yung pagmamahal nila sa akin, ang hope nila. Pasalamat sila na may Manny pacquiao na tumayo at lumaban para sakanila para sa mga mahihirap na tao. Ito yung laban ng mahihirap na tao na ipapanalo ko naman sila,” he said.
(I can feel in my heart their love for me, their hope. They are thankful that there is a Manny Pacquiao that stood up for them and fought for them, the poor people. This is the fight of the poor people and I will win this for them.)
Pacquiao issued the remarks in light of the latest Pulse Asia survey, showing that presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the preferred presidential bets with 56% of the respondents choosing him.
Pacquiao placed third with only a 7% rating.
The senator said the “silent majority” which represents 48% of the country’s electorate will play a pivotal role in determining the results of the upcoming polls.
He also expressed that through his Pabahay Plus forms — which promises houses for poor people — people would support his candidacy, saying that unlike other candidates, he already has something to show for his promise to provide free houses to homeless Filipinos and provide employment and livelihood to the poor.
Even before joining politics, Pacquiao has given away thousands of free houses through his five “Pacman Village” projects in General Santos City and Saranggani province.
“Naniniwala ako na ang suporta nila na kay Manny Pacquiao dahil si Manny Pacquiao ang representante ng mahihirap kasi dyan ako nanggaling,” the boxer-turned-politician said.
(I believe in their support for Manny Pacquiao because I am the representative of the poor because I came from the poor.)
He said that the majority of Filipinos will make him win despite surveys because they know that he is the only candidate who has a genuine love for the country and the people, especially the poor.
“Nagsasabi ako ng galing sa puso. Nagsasabi ako ng totoo, hindi ako nagsasalita in a politician way, in a trapo politician na nagtatalumpati kung ano ano pangako. Nasa puso ko sinasabi ko sa tao kasi ramdam ko yung nararamdaman na paghihirap ng sambayanang Pilipino kaya ganito si Manny Pacquiao, “ he said.
(All my statements come from the heart. I tell the truth. I don’t talk like a trapo politician who makes speeches about their promises. I tell what is in my heart because I feel what the poor people feel.)
