Boxing Great Manny Pacquiao Open To Vie For Philippine President Next Year

Manny Pacquiao has revealed he will run for president of the Philippines next year, less than a month after losing to Yordenis Ugas in the boxing ring.


The 42-year-old has been rallying against government corruption in his home nation and what he calls a cozy relationship between President Rodrigo Duterte and China.


Pacquiao accepted his political allies' nomination during the national assembly of the PDP-Laban Party, days after a rival faction nominated Duterte's long-time aide, Senator Christopher 'Bong' Go, as its presidential candidate.


Duterte was nominated as vice president, a move that critics called a cynical ploy by the 76-year-old to retain power.


Go declined the nomination, but the rift between Pacquiao and Duterte's factions has escalated.


Pacquiao, 42, a senator, said in a live-streamed speech during the assembly as cited by Sports Central: 'I am a fighter, and I will always be a fighter inside and outside the ring. 'I am accepting your nomination as candidate for president of the Republic of the Philippines.


Pacquiao's faction has not expressed support for Duterte's vice-presidential bid, and the Filipino constitution blocks him from running for a second six-year term. 


One of the greatest boxers of all time and the only man to hold world titles in eight different divisions, Pacquiao gained an army of support across his 26-year professional career. 


Despite the star's popularity, he trails the front-runners in opinion polls that have been topped consistently by Duterte's daughter, Sara Duterte-Carpio.


In July, Pacquiao was voted out as PDP-Laban leader, weeks after challenging Duterte over his position on China and record on fighting corruption, but his exit was rejected by his faction.


Pacquiao, once a close ally of Duterte, had said more than 10 billion pesos (£145million) in pandemic aid intended for poor families was unaccounted for, adding this was just one discovery in his planned corruption investigation.


His anti-corruption crusade comes as the Senate has opened an investigation into alleged overpricing of medical supplies and equipment purchased under the government's pandemic response programme.


Duterte challenged Pacquiao to name corrupt government offices to prove that the boxer was not just politicking ahead of the election.


Pacquiao countered by warning of jail for corrupt government officials: 'Your time is up!


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