Pacquiao open to switch sides for Mar Roxas, close friend says

Yacap Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez’s photo of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas with
Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao during President Aquino’s final Sona.

Boxing champion and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is open to switching sides to support Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, a representative said on Tuesday.

In an interview, Yacap Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez said Pacquiao, eyed as senatorial bet of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), is open to switching to the Liberal Party.

Pacquiao is being eyed to run as senator under Vice President Jejomar Binay in 2016.

“Open siya (Pacquiao) pero nirerespeto niya pa rin ang present niyang partido,” Lopez said. Pacquiao is a Sarangani Representative under UNA. Lopez is known to be close to Pacquiao. They both came from Sarangani.

Lopez said she and Pacquiao have been talking to support Roxas’ bid for presidency in 2016.

“Kami ni Cong. Manny lagi kami nag-uusap niyan sa isyu ng Sarangani. Napag-uusapan ang pulitika. Gusto ko magkasama kami ni Cong. Manny para buo ang Sarangani for Mar,” Lopez said.

Lopez said she did not directly ask Pacquiao to leave UNA but only if he would be interested to support Roxas whether as a senator bet or as a local official.

She said Pacquiao is planning to run for local office or for reelection.

“Hindi naman namin sinasabi na umalis na siya sa UNA. But he is welcome to join Sec. Mar,” Lopez said.

Lopez said the following personalities are eyed as Roxas’ runner-up: Batangas governor Vilma Santos, Camarines Sur. Rep. Leni Robredo, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, and Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

To prove a renowned friendship between the two, Lopez showed reporters a photo of Roxas and Pacquiao during President Benigno Aquino III’s last State of the Nation Address where Roxas received heaps of praise from the president.