Pacquiao endorses Senate bids of Estrada, Revilla

Former Senators Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Senator  Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday vowed to  campaign for two former senators, who were not part of the PDP-Laban’s senatorial slate.

Pacquiao, campaign manager of PDP-Laban, was referring to former Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., who were among the 13 senatorial bets endorsed by Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio’s Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Estrada and Revilla, however, were not among the 12 senatorial candidates endorsed by PDP-Laban chair, President Rodrigo Duterte.

READ: Duterte drops Jinggoy from admin Senate slate

“Nag decide si Koko, yung  party ng PDP, na hindi sila kasali pero sa akin, ini-insist ko na close sila sa akin and then I’ll support them. Kakampanya ko sila,” Pacquiao said over ABS-CBN News Channel.

Senator Aqulino “Koko” Pimentel is the president of the PDP-Laban.

The PDP-Laban’s five-man slate dubbed as “MaBaGoKoTo” is composed of Pimentel, former police chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former presidential aide Bong Go, Maguindanao 2nd District Rep. Zajid Mangudadatu, and former presidential political adviser Francis Tolentino.

But aside from the five, Pacquiao said he would also campaign for Estrada, Revilla, Senators Cynthia Villar, JV Ejercito, and Sonny Angara, Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano, and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos.

Asked about the corruption allegations against some of the candidates he is supporting, Pacquiao noted that they are still presumed innocent until  proven guilty.

“Habang hindi pa sila nahahatulan na guilty, hindi pa considered convicted sila  sa ginawa talaga nila,” he pointed out.

Estrada and Revilla, along with former Senator Juan Poce Enrile, were accused  and jailed over the so-called “pork  barrel” scam.

Estrada and Enrile were out on bail while Revilla was already acquitted by  Sandiganbayan. /jpv

READ: Bong Revilla acquitted of plunder