Pacquiao: No plans yet but not closing doors on presidency

Senator Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao said he has no plans yet to run for president but said he is not closing his doors on that possibility.

“Wala pa sa isip natin yan, focus tayo sa trabaho natin (I don’t think about if for now, I want to focus on my work),” Pacquiao told reporters on Wednesday when sought for comment on President Rodrigo Duterte’s comment that he could become president.

“For President na to ha (This is for President),” Duterte said when he raised the senator’s hand during a courtesy call in Malacañang last Monday night.

But Pacquiao said he has not discussed with anyone the possibility of him seeking the highest office in the land.

He said the President had just probably made the remark since they have the same advocacy.

“Siguro nakita nya na pareho naman kami ng advocacy, pareho kami ng nararamdaman so nasabi nya yun pero sa akin trabaho lang ako (Perhaps he saw that we have the same advocacy, we have the same view so he said that but I want to focus on my work now),” said the senator.

Pacquiao said he wants to concentate now on boxing and on his work at the Senate.

Asked about the possibility that he would change his mind and consider running for president, the senator said: “Hindi naman natin sinasabing sarado. Ang pagiging Presidente ang Panginoon ang naglalagay dyan… Masyadong mataas yan para pangarapin. Gamapanan natin yung trabaho natin para marami tayong matutulungan ng mga Pilipino (I’m not closing my door on the presidency. God grants the presidency. It ‘s such a high ambition. I will fulfill my work so I would be able to help a lot of Filipinos),” he said.

But for now, the senator said he would rather focus first on how to solve the problems of the country.

“Kasi pag hindi natin naresolba ito, hindi natin nabago ang bansa natin hanggang six years, parang ayaw ko na rin sa pulitika (If we won’t be able to resolve it and if we fail to improve our country within the next six years, I think I don’t want to get involved in politics),” he said.

“Yan ang commitment ko na kailangang may maitulong tayo, kailangang may mabago tayo so pasalamat ako naman dahil pareho kami ng advocacy ng Pesidente (My commitment is to be able to help and incorporate change so I’m thankful that the President and I share the same advocacy.). Am sure within six years na malaki ang pagbabago sa bansa natin (our country would see significant changes),” Pacquiao added. RAM

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