Resigning from politics crosses Pacquiao’s mind

Sen. Manny Pacquiao
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / LYN RILLON

Dismayed by “destabilizers” and politicians with “hidden agenda,” Senator Manny Pacquiao admitted on Tuesday that he has thoughts of resigning from politics.

“Kung tatanungin mo ako ngayon sa pulitika, parang gusto kong madismaya, ma-discourage. Gusto kong umayaw na, ano ba… ganito pala yung pulitika? Kasi hindi ako marunong mamulitika e. Kung ano yug tama, kung ano ang alam kong tama para sa bayan, yun ang isusulong ko, yun ang gusto ko,” Pacquiao said during a press briefing at the Senate.

(If you would ask me today about politics, it is very dismaying, discouraging. I want to give up already. Is this the real politics? Me, I don’t really know how to play politics. Whatever is right, whatever I know is right for the country, that is what I’m going to pursue, that is what I like.)

“Marami akong nadiskubre dito pagdating sa pulitika na hindi mo malaman kung totoo o hindi, maraming nagtatago sa ibang anyo…” he said.

(I discovered a lot when I joined politics—things that you wouldn’t know whether it’s real or not. A lot of them are cloaked behind a different appearance.)

Asked if he is now discouraged to seek a new post in government after his term ends in 2022, Pacquiao said: “Alam mo sinabi ko nga sa asawa ko, sabi ko babe gusto kong mag-resign pero pag umayaw naman ako dito sa pulitika, sino na lang ang taong may puso talaga? Sino na lang ang taong totoong mag serbisyo sa ating gobyerno?”

(You know what? I have told my wife, babe I want to resign but if I give up politics, who would be the one to have a heart? Who would be that person to provide real service to the government?)

Asked why he was disappointed in politics, Pacquiao cited as example some politicians who pretend to help out the poor but only do so because they have their own hidden agenda.

Asked again if he was disappointed by people who were trying to “destabilize” the government, the senator quickly answered yes.

Ayaw ko ng pangalanan, mag-init lang yung ulo ko. Buti na lang hindi ako si Duterte,” he said, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte.

(I don’t want to name names. Gladly I’m not like Duterte.)

Pacquiao refused to identify though the politicians or colleagues who have disappointed him.

“Ayaw kong magsalita ng bad words pero nagagalit ako sa ganyan (I don’t want to say bad words but I hate those kinds of things),” the senator added. /jpv

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