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Philippines boxer Manny Pacquiao declares himself 2022 presidential candidate

2021-09-19T15:41:27.599Z


Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is running for the presidential race in the Philippines. Sacred destiny. Boxer Manny Pacquiao, lifted out of poverty to become a ring star and national hero, announced his candidacy for the May 2022 presidential election in the Philippines on Sunday. " The time has come, we are ready to take on the challenge of the presidency, " said the 42-year-old boxer, who agreed to run for a dissident faction in President Rodrigo Duterte's party, the PDP-Laban. Man


Sacred destiny.

Boxer Manny Pacquiao, lifted out of poverty to become a ring star and national hero, announced his candidacy for the May 2022 presidential election in the Philippines on Sunday.

"

The time has come, we are ready to take on the challenge of the presidency,

" said the 42-year-old boxer, who agreed to run for a dissident faction in President Rodrigo Duterte's party, the PDP-Laban.

Manny Pacquiao made his decision a few weeks after his last professional fight, an August 22 loss in Las Vegas to Cuban Yordenis Ugas.

The only boxer to have been world champion in eight different weight categories, “

Pac Man

” is a huge source of pride for Filipinos.

Manny Pacquiao Stephen R. Sylvanie / REUTERS

As a child, he lived on the streets before entering professional boxing in January 1995 for a purse of 1,000 pesos (19 euros) and subsequently amassing a fortune estimated at over $ 500 million.

Manny Pacquiao entered politics in 2010, when he was elected MP, before becoming a senator in 2016. He has sometimes sparked controversy with his statements in favor of the death penalty or hostile to homosexuality.

But he is deeply popular in the archipelago of 110 million people, where his generosity and his path to success as he was born into extreme poverty are deeply admired.

An uncertain race

Despite his star status which should place him in a position of strength in a country admiring celebrities in politics, victory is not certain for the former boxer. Even if Mr. Duterte, according to the Constitution, cannot stand for re-election, as the president is only entitled to one term, other candidates could come ahead of Mr. Pacquiao, if they decide to run. here by the October 8 deadline.

Foremost among them is Mr. Duterte's own daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio, who belongs to a party other than that of her father.

The current mayor of Davao City, one of the largest cities in the Philippines, if she decides to run for the top job, would come out on top, according to the polls.

Rodrigo Duterte has declared himself a candidate for the country's vice-presidency in order to continue his “

crusade

” against drugs and the rebels.

In the Philippines, the president and vice-president are elected separately.

Manny Pacquiao Ethan Miller / AFP

While waiting for other possible candidates, including one, Senator Christopher Lawrence "

Bong

" Go, would be supported by the party of Mr. Duterte, Manny Pacquiao has already promised to spare no efforts, starting by sending "

hundreds or thousands

”of crooked politicians in a purpose-built“

mega prison

”.

To all those who ask me what my skills and abilities are, have you ever suffered from hunger?

“, He declared Sunday in front of his supporters.

"

Do you know what it's like to have nothing to eat, to have to borrow money from your neighbors, or to wait to collect leftovers from a restaurant?"

The Manny Pacquiao in front of you was shaped by poverty

".

Until recently, Evangelical Christian Pacquiao was a prominent supporter of President Duterte and his controversial war on drugs, which prosecutors at the International Criminal Court want to investigate for the alleged unlawful murder of tens of thousands of people. But he's publicly clashed with Duterte lately, over official corruption and handling a maritime dispute with Beijing, and that could cost him backing, as the current president remains extremely popular.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-09-19

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