DESPITE being spurned for another presidential wannabe, Sen. Manny Pacquiao said he has no intention of booting out Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri from his ticket.
Interviewed by reporters Wednesday night after his sortie in Caloocan City, the PROMDI Party standard bearer said regardless of his personal feelings about Zubiri’s actions, he will continue to support the lawmaker from Bukidnon because they both hail from Mindanao.
Zubiri endorsed the presidential bid of former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. during a rally last March 31 in his home province of Bukidnon, although he is a guest candidate in the lineups of Pacquiao and Vice President Leni Robredo.
Pacquiao’s camp noted that the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, father of Bongbong, was largely blamed for the secessionist war in Mindanao.
“I am hoping he will win because he is a fellow Mindanaoan. As I have always said, my personal interest takes second place to the interest of my country. As long as there is no progress, we will not see lasting peace in Mindanao,” Pacquiao said.
Despite having declared his allegiance to Marcos, Pacquiao said Zubiri will remain a guest candidate in his senatorial lineup.
He, however, warned that politicians who are supporting Marcos will not escape the blame if the son and namesake of the deposed dictator wins and trouble starts anew for Mindanao.
“Kung personal ang interes ko sa buhay, magagalit ako. Ang gusto ko lang magkaroon ng representate ang Mindanao (I would have taken offense if I were only looking after my personal interest. But having more government representatives from Mindanao outweighs any other considerations),” Pacquiao said.
