Give Chance to Others, Pacquiao Says on 'Run, Sara' Calls

Sen. Manny Pacquiao said "others" should be given the chance to be president, as calls mount for Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to run for the presidency to succeed her father.

Pacquiao, a devout Christian, said the presidency of the Philippines is a position "anointed by God." He said he had not decided on possible presidential run in 2022.

"Sa tingin ko, sa aking opinyon, dapat pagbigyan din naman natin ang iba," Pacquiao said in an interview with ABS-CBN.

"Gusto ko in the right time magdesisyon ako, mag-announce ako in the right time," he said.

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Pacquiao is part of President Rodrigo Duterte's "options" for a successor next year, according to Malacanang.

Last week, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, also among the President's options, said the presidency should not be inherited. He said he was expressing his personal opnion and was not taking a swipe at Duterte-Carpio.

Pacquiao recently asked his partymates in the PDP-Laban party to boycott a recent national council meeting organized by Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, who is pushing for Duterte to run for vice president next year since he is ineligible for reelection.

Pacquiao said he had requested a meeting with the President. The senator is president of PDP-Laban while the chief executive is chairman.

"Pag-usapan namin lahat kung bagay pa, tama ba na bababa siya. Kung maganda ba o hindi, may ganung scenario. Ako naman, diretso ako magsalita naman, hindi naman ako paligoy. Siyempre kapag masama, sabihin nating masama," he said.

Pacquiao said he was confident of the support of his partymates and had no plans of leaving PDP-Laban.