Manny Pacquiao reenters political ring as senatorial candidate

Former senator and boxing great Manny Pacquiao is seeking to reenter the political ring after filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator in Eleksyon 2025.

Ex-Senator Manny Pacquiao wants to re-enter the political arena as he formalized bid as senator for #Eleksyon2025. He vowed to continue fighting corruption in the Senate. pic.twitter.com/WDzM8b1LZh

— Sundy Locus ???????? (@sundylocus_) October 7, 2024

Vowing to continue fighting corruption in the country, Pacquiao said, “Ako ay naniniwala kaya nag-hirap at nag-dusa ang Sambayanang Pilipino — maraming walang trabaho, bagsak ang ekonomiya — dahil yan sa korupsyon.” 

(I believe that Filipinos are struggling and suffering heavily, with many unemployed and the economy in shambles, these are all due to corruption.)

“Walang mangyayari sa bansa natin. Walang mangyayari sa kinabukasan natin kung hindi natin lalabanan ang korupsyon ng ating bansa,” he said.

(Nothing will happen to our country. Nothing will happen to our future if we don't fight corruption in our country.)

Pacquiao is among the senatorial aspirants the administration is endorsing for next year’s polls. He previously ran against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2022 presidential elections where he placed third with around 4 million votes.

Asked about the alleged ill-gotten wealth issue of the Marcos Family, the boxer-turned-senator said: “Lagi nating sinisisi ang Pamilya Marcos pagdating sa korupsyon, hindi ba natin nakikita na sa panahon ng Marcos, ang bansa natin number 1 sa ekonomiya. May corrupt ba na bansa ba na number 1 sa ekonomiya?”

(We always criticize the Marcos Family regarding corruption, right? But didn't our country rank number 1 in economy during the Marcos era? Is there a country that was number 1 in economy and was corrupt?”)

It can be recalled Pacquiao said in 2022 that he would strengthen the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), an agency created to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth by former President Ferdinand Marcos, his immediate family and relatives, as well as subordinates and close associates,  if elected president.

Meanwhile, senatorial aspirant Maria Fe Era also formalized her Senate bid. She did not explain why she decided to run in 2025. —RF, GMA Integrated  News