Pacquiao to poor: ‘I’ll be your fists in the Senate’

Mara Cepeda

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Pacquiao to poor: ‘I’ll be your fists in the Senate’

Alecs Ongcal

Boxer and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao begins his bid for 'new levels of responsibility'


MANILA, Philippines – Deeming himself the “champion of the poor,” Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao on Friday, October 16, joined the senatorial race, filing his certificate of candidacy under the opposition United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) banner.

The world-renowned boxer arrived past 11 am at the Palacio del Gobernador and headed to the Commission on Elections office in Intramuros, Manila, to file his COC, cheered on by dozens of supporters, including an impersonator.

In his statement after he filed his COC, Pacquiao said that he will push for measures that would empower the poor to give them a better chance of having a good life.

He said he will be the “fists of the poor” in the Senate, where he would fight for their welfare. Pacquiao said among the measures that he would push for, if elected, are those on free public education up to the college level, and more protection and benefits for overseas Filipino workers, among others.

Pacquiao was accompanied by his wife, Jinkee, and his two sons.

UNA standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay said in December 2014 that the boxing champion was the first to be included in his senatorial lineup.

Pacquiao declared his intention to run for senator earlier this month. Speaking to his constituents in Sarangani during his State of the District Address on October 5, he said: “In the coming days, I will be embracing new levels of responsibility. I will be confronting tough challenges.”

Pacquiao is in the Magic 12 of recent senatorial preference surveys. – Rappler.com

Check out who are running for national and local positions: 
LIST: Aspirants for 2016 elections

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Mara Cepeda

Mara Cepeda specializes in stories about politics and local governance. She covers the Office of the Vice President, the Senate, and the Philippine opposition. She is a 2021 fellow of the Asia Journalism Fellowship and the Reham al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship of the UN. Got tips? Email her at mara.cepeda@rappler.com or tweet @maracepeda.