Pacquiao: President must be God-fearing

MANILA, Philippines — Undaunted by his fourth ranking in surveys, Sen. Manny Pacquiao will finish his campaign and may accept loss, as long as the candidate who wins will be God-fearing and pro-poor.

“Even if Manny Pacquiao doesn’t make it, I’m still hoping that God puts a godly person, one who is a godly leader who has a genuine love for our country. Somebody who is not a thief, not materialistic and who is not lured by money but an authentic motive to serve,” he said.

“I believe that is a leader that we really need for our country. Let’s open our eyes,” the Promdi presidential candidate said, expressing belief he will still make it in the end because he is the only candidate who is genuinely committed to uplifting the lives of the poor.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Santa Lucia East Penthouse in Marikina after going around Pasig City in a caravan, Pacquiao insisted the surveys are not reaching the country’s poorest of the poor who represent the majority of Filipinos.

The senator cast doubts on the accuracy of preferential surveys for the 2022 Elections, particularly OCTA Research’s recent poll where he was in fourth spot, trailing the late dictator’s son Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Leni Robredo and Manila Mayor Isko Moreno.

“I am not worried at all. My supporters very well know what I represent, and what I am fighting for. The real battle lies in the D and E class, or the impoverished sector. Obviously, there are more poor than the rich, that is why we should win in the elections,” he said.

As far as he is concerned, this year’s election presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for poverty-stricken Filipinos to finally redeem themselves from long years of neglect by electing a candidate who really feels their struggles and understands their needs.

The global boxing icon, now a Born-again Christian, firmly believes that he has been destined to step in to stop the systemic corruption that is the root cause of country’s poverty for the longest time now.

He said his victory will be also a victory for the millions of Filipinos who remain homeless, jobless and hopeless.

Pacquiao has been giving away free houses through his five “Pacman Villages” in General Santos City and Sarangani province, and has helped thousands of Filipinos seeking capital for their small businesses and financial support for their education.

“My free housing program is not an empty promise. Even when I was still a private citizen, I have been doing it already. Others will never understand it because they never did it in the first place. I did it before I entered politics, giving people livelihood and education,” he said. – Neil Jayson Servallos