Pacquiao Denies Quitting Presidential Race

Presidential candidate Sen. Manny Pacquiao vowed on Thursday, Feb. 17, not to quit the presidential race, saying he is not a weak person.

Asked about rumors that a presidential candidate is expected to quit the race to cut losses, Pacquiao said his whole family supports him in pushing through with his presidential bid.

“I am not a weak leader. I am not that weak of a person. I’m a fighter,” Pacquiao said in an interview.

“Whoever said that I was backing down, maybe they’re the ones who are about to quit the race. Just so everyone knows, Manny Pacquiao is always up for a fight for life and what’s right,” he said.

Pacquiao said his wife and family believe and know that he is sincere in his intentions to help the country.

Rumors circulated this week that a presidential candidate has decided to throw in the towel and end his campaign activities due to funding and logistical issues.

Asked about his spending for the campaign, Pacquiao said he was not spending a hefty sum for his election-related activities.

He said going all-out in campaign spending is “within the playbook of the crooks.”

“We don’t spend that much because I have no intention to recover what I spent when I’m already in office. Those who are spending so much, going full throttle, all of them have vested interests. They’re intending to take advantage of the state coffers,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao wants Deputy Speaker Bro. Eddie Villanueva to be his anti-corruption czar if he is elected president.

“If God wills that I be president of our nation, I would appoint Cong. Eddie Villanueva or Brother Eddie Villanueva of the Jesus is Lord movement as corruption czar,” Pacquiao told journalists during a campaign sortie in Rizal.

He said he already talked with Villanueva, whom he said was impressed with his plan to fight corruption.

“I hope he would accept my offer to appoint him as anti-corruption czar,” Pacquiao said. “First of all, he has fear of the Lord, he does not compromise. And I know everything that he will do will be good for God and our country.”

Villanueva represents the Citizens’ Battle Against Corruption, whose main advocacy is to fight corruption in all fronts of the government.

“With Brother Eddie, I am confident that justice can finally be attained against corrupt officials of government - past and present,” Pacquiao said.

He hinted that he would have joined the rebels due to poverty had not it been for the boxing opportunity that honed his skills and catapulted him to public office.

Pacquiao said people in the countryside resort to rebellion only because they are neglected by the government.

“We cannot blame them if they go to the hills and bear arms due to extreme poverty. The reason why people revolt is because the government does not help or listen to them. That is how the war in Mindanao started,” Pacquiao said.

In an interview with the Citizen’s Alliance for Just Peace (CAJP), Pacquiao vowed to resume formal talks between the government and the National Democratic Front if he wins the presidency.

CAJP organized a town hall meeting for presidential candidates titled “Peace and the Presidentiables” webinar series. It was launched to highlight peace as an electoral issue in the upcoming May 9 general elections.