PROMDI declares Pacquiao as standard bearer for 2022

CEBU, Philippines —  Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is now the official presidential candidate of Abag-Promdi, a local party based in Cebu, for the 2022 polls.

Pacquiao,42, took his oath as a member of PROMDI (Probinsya Muna Development Initiative) in the group’s kickoff activity last night in a hotel at the North Reclamation Area.

He was the first presidential aspirant who visited the vote-rich Cebu yesterday, five days before the start of the filing of certificate of candidacy (COC).

Pacquiao, in a speech, formally accepted his nomination as the official presidential candidate of the party.

PROMDI’s support is seen to strengthen Pacquiao’s presidential bid.

He vowed to tackle corruption and poverty.

“Nais ko na mabigyan nang magandang kinabukasan ang ating mga kababayan at ipakulong ang labat na kawatan sa gobyerno. Dili pobre ang atong nasud. Na porbe ta tungod sa mga kawatan sa gobyerno,” he said.

He said seeing corrupt elected and government officials behind bars is among his dreams.

“Mao akoa pangandoy makita ni sa kulungan ang mga kurap mag sama-sama silang lahat,” he said, adding that corruption is the principal reason of poverty.

He also called on government agencies to refrain from “bloating their budgets.”

Philippine boxer-turned-politician Pacquiao declared on September 19, 2021 he will run for president in 2022.

The eight-division world champion made the announcement weeks after losing what could be his last professional fight, against Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas.

He entered politics in 2010 as a congressman before being elected to the Senate.

Pacquiao is leading his faction in PDP-Laban together with former senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

The other faction is led by President Rodrigo Duterte as chairman and Alfonso Cusi as president.

Pacquiao used to be the party president but he was replaced by Cusi during a national assembly held in August. The group endorsed Senator Bong Go and Duterte as candidates for president and vice president.

“I was nominated by PDP Laban, tinanggap ko yun. I was nominated by PROMDI, tinatanggap ko rin. Tumatakbo ako para maging Presidente ng Pilipinas, para sa bayan. Kailangan ko magkaroon ng alyansa sa mga partido na kapareho ko ang pananaw para maisulong ang kapakanan ng bayan,” said Pacquiao.

In accepting his nomination, Pacquaio paid tribute to the older Osmeña whom he described as visionary and one who “presented the blueprint for the country's true progress which is, to empower the provinces so these can be financially capable and can contribute substantially to the country's economic growth.”

On September 18, PROMDI signed an alliance with the PDP-Laban faction led by Pacquiao.

PROMDI was founded by former Cebu governor Emilio Mario “Lito” Osmeña in 1998 when he ran for president, but lost to Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

PROMDI’s platform focuses on the devolution of power and initiative, a responsive and relevant educational system, and advanced and tactical nuclearization.

PROMDI president Mariano “Mimo” Osmeña thanked those who attended the relaunching of the political group.

Mimo said his father's party has chosen Pacquiao said the standard-bearer for PROMDI because the boxing-legend-turned-senator represents the dreams and aspirations of all "promdis." PROMDI is also a moniker used for Filipinos living in provinces outside of Metro Manila.

“Pacquiao is also the perfect candidate for PROMDI because he is an advocate of “reverse migration” which requires the government to refocus development and create more economic opportunities in the provinces to encourage people who have moved to Metro Manila to migrate back to their place of origin,” Mimo said.

Present during the event were Association of Barangay Council-Cebu City Chapter Franklin Ong, former Pinamungahan, Cebu mayor Geradine Yapha, and other local politicians.

Yapha, in a speech, commended Pacquiao for being “approachable and down-to-earth”.

“Si Manny Pacquiao nagpabiling walay libog ug mapaubsanon. Atong paluyuhan ang atoa. Ato man ni taga Pinamungahan. Bisaya man ni, tga promdi man ni,” she said. — KQD (FREEMAN)