Boxing icon and senator Manny Pacquiao has been elected as the President of the PDP-Laban party.
Even though he did not express his willingness to run as president, his former promoter Bob Arum confirmed that Pacquiao will be a presidential candidate for 2022.
Last Wednesday December 2, he had taken his oath as the leader of said party.
With PDP-Laban gearing for the 2022 elections, many netizens expressed their concern regarding the boxing champ’s possibility of running as President.
Francis Baraan IV emphasized that a President should not just have a heart but should be brilliant and open-minded. For him, Pacquiao is not fit to be the leader of the country.
He tweeted, “Pacquiao was just named President of PDP-LABAN, PRRD’s party. He’s rumored to be eyeing the Top Post in 2022. YES. May puso si Manny. But Malacañang needs more than just a good heart—it also needs a brilliant, open mind. PHILANTHROPY FOR PACQUIAO? YES. PRESIDENCY? ‘DI PUWEDE.”
Pacquiao was just named President of PDP-LABAN, PRRD's party. He's rumored to be eyeing the Top Post in 2022.
YES. May puso si Manny.
But Malacañang needs more than just a good heart—it also needs a brilliant, open mind.
PHILANTHROPY FOR PACQUIAO? YES.
PRESIDENCY? 'DI PUWEDE.
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) December 3, 2020
The presidency is not just about being influential and popular. A netizen addressed this concern and even compared Pacquiao to President Rodrigo Duterte who was a product of populism last presidential election.
@Iammikaeu did not like the idea of Pacquiao running as a president. She wrote, “Manny Pacquiao is another product of Populism like Dogterte. He knows he’s popular, he’s influential and he can deceive anyone to vote for him. WE DONT NEED ANOTHER ‘POPULAR with a good heart’ PRESIDENT. WE NEED A COMPETENT AND EDUCATED ONE.”
https://twitter.com/lamikaeu/status/1334357261590806530
Some were even scared that Pacquiao, who is very loved by the Filipino people as a boxer has a higher chance of winning than other possible candidates as the next President.
@YTSaludo wrote, “Manny Pacquiao having a big chance at being president is scary.”
https://twitter.com/YTSaludo/status/1334321850688495616
Some even attacked Pacquiao’s strong opposition to the LGBTQ+ community. A netizen even said that he is afraid that a homophobe president would only lead to chaos in the Philippines. This is because the community of LGBTQ+ has been very vocal regarding their rights. With Manny having a probability to win as President, it would mean that they would also lose the opportunity to achieve their goal.
@bobtheb1232 wrote, “Y’all at this point Manny Pacquiao has a high chance of winning and it’s just going to be another reign or terror with the side of homophobia. I’m losing all hope to this country now istg i just want to leave this shit hole.”
Yall at this point Manny Pacquiao has a high chance of winning and its just going to be another reign or terror with the side of homophobia.
I'm losing all hope to this country now istg i just want to leave this shit hole. pic.twitter.com/dfeDuZhF2q
— fish girl (@bobtheb1232) December 3, 2020
In fact, Paquiao, during his time as a senator, has been named the top absentee in the senate.
Netizens questioned if he would be present all the time if he, as a lawmaker, couldn’t attend senate hearings.
@bluehourbimb tweeted, “Never forget that Manny Pacquiao has done a TERRIBLE job as a lawmaker. Kahit attendance, bagsak. And now it feels like he’s gonna run for President? Mag-boxing nalang sya, please.”
Never forget that Manny Pacquiao has done a TERRIBLE job as a lawmaker. Kahit attendance, bagsak. And now it feels like he's gonna run for President? Mag-boxing nalang sya, please. pic.twitter.com/InY5QgS9fP
— the bimb chapter (@trustfundbimby) December 3, 2020
Some appreciated Pacquiao for being able to bring honor to the Philippines as an athlete but being a politician, much more of a President, he is sorely lacking.
@Lenz0819 tweeted, Manny Pacquiao is enough being a National Pride and mabuting tao. To become the Philippine President? It is NEVER appealing. It’s APPALLING!!!
https://twitter.com/Lenz0819/status/1334276883190439936
The idea of the boxing champ as President was not even welcomed by others. Some even suggested that he stick to boxing and stop being a politician.
https://twitter.com/ginoonggonggong/status/1334314450329894912
Pacquiao hates politics?
In a recent podcast with Nas Daily, Pacquiao admitted that he hates politics.
“Actually, to let you know, from the beginning, I don’t like politics. Because of the system of politics. There’s a lot of corrupt politician. I’m not saying all of them but most of them,” the senator said.
Furthermore, he confessed that he was sorry for entering politics. Serving for over a decade as a Representative of the 1st District of South Cotabato, and now a senator, he still regret his decision to enter such complex career. However, his only aim on being a politician is to help the Filipino people.
“I regret I entered politics. Since I am here in politics, I really want to help the people who are in need,” he added.
As a result of his statement on Nas Daily he was also heavily criticized since his statement is such a contrast with his move on becoming the leader of PDP-Laban.
@guil_laurente admired Pacquiao as an athlete but not as a politician. He even suggested that one thing that the senator could do to help Filipinos is by staying out of politics.
He wrote, “Manny Pacquiao is a great boxer and more importantly, a good man. But still, Politics is just not for him. If he really wants to help the Filipinos, he can do so by staying out of politics.”
Manny Pacquiao is a great boxer and more importantly, a good man. But still, Politics is just not for him. If he really wants to help the Filipinos, he can do so by staying out of politics.
— Guil. #JoelMillerApologist (@guil_laurente) December 3, 2020
@13thFool chimed in by saying that Filipinos also regret making Pacquiao a politician.
He wrote, “”I regret that I entered politics.” — Manny Pacquiao. KAMI RIN.”
"I regret that I entered politics." — Manny Pacquiao
KAMI RIN.
— Emil (@13thFool) December 3, 2020
