Presidential candidate Manny Pacquiao speaks during the first presidential debate organized by the Commission on Elections on March 19, 2022.

Philstar.com / Deejae Dumlao

 

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday said he was surprised at how the Easter Sunday joint conference by presidential candidates turned out, saying the plan was to make a call for unity, and for clean and honest elections.

 

Pacquiao was named as a signatory in the joint statement that he, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" Lacson, Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso and former Arroyo Cabinet member Norberto Gonzales were not withhdrawing from the presidential race and would work together against poll fraud.

 

"Ang press con na ‘yun hindi naman ‘yun pag-atake ng ibang mga kandidato. ‘Yung press con na ‘yun [ay para] sa pagkakaisa na magkaroon ng malinis, honest na halalan at magkaroon ng pagtutulungan doon sa isang adhikain na paano natin matulungan ang ating kababayan, paunlarin ang bansa natin, at solusyunan lahat ng problema," Pacquiao was quoted as saying in an interview transcript provided by his camp.

 

(The press con was not meant to attack other candidates. The press con was supposed to be for unity to achieve clean and honest elections, to attain the objective of helping our countrymen, help the development of our country, and solve the nation’s problems.)

 

Full Story: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2022/04/20/2175518/pacquiao-attacks-calls-withdraw-not-agenda-easter-sunday-presser

 

-- © Copyright Philstar 2022-04-20

As a favorite I hope his time as a politician has not made him forget the ever present possibility of a low blow !