MANILA, Philippines — Boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao is seeking to reenter the senatorial ring, filing his certificate of candidacy on October 7, Monday, two years after he lost the presidential race to now President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Marcos, who has recently formed his administration's senatorial slate, announced the inclusion of Pacquiao, who hails from Mindanao's General Santos City.
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“He is established not just in our country, but in the whole world. Our next candidate is our National Fist that has shown his skills as a lawmaker,” Marcos said in Filipino at a September 26 event.
Pacquiao broke into Philippine politics when he earned a seat in the House of Representatives, representing the 1st District of South Cotabato in 2010.
New alliance. When he was elected as senator in 2016, Pacquiao allied himself with former president Rodrigo Duterte and his clan, joining the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino or PDP-Laban. Pacquiao was eventually selected to take the helm of the party. However, Pacquiao’s relationship with Duterte soured when the senator criticized Duterte's lackluster stance on the West Philippine Sea.
Following a failed presidential bid in 2022 against Marcos, he transferred to the president's Partido Federal ng Pilipinas in time for the 2025 mid-term polls.
Legislative record. As a lawmaker, Pacquiao pushed for the reimposition of the death penalty for heinous crimes, a controversial proposal that faced backlash from human rights groups.
He also championed the creation of the Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission, aimed at promoting and regulating combat sports in the country.