Sen. Manny Pacquiao is ready to run as an independent presidential candidate in the 2022 elections should his faction fail to be recognized as the legitimate PDP-Laban, a party official said Monday.
The Commission on Elections is set to decide on the leadership row in PDP-Laban, which is now divided into two factions led by Pacquiao and Energy Sec. Alfonso Cusi, who is pushing for President Rodrigo Duterte's vice presidential candidacy.
Pacquiao's supporters said they were ready to bring the fight to the Supreme Court.
"Ready siyang [tumakbo as independent]. Kasi ganyan katibay ang prinsipyo ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao," said Ronwald Munsayac, the national executive director of the senator's faction.
Even if Pacquiao loses a vehicle for his possible presidential candidacy, Munsayac said there are a number of political parties who are willing to support him. The senator, however, is not willing to leave PDP-Laban.
"Maraming partido ang willing sumuporta kay Sen. Manny Pacquiao. Nagpapasalamat kami sa kanila pero kinaklaro namin na hindi sasapi si Sen. Manny sa ibang partido," he said.
Pacquiao said he would announce his plans for the 2022 elections in September, the month before the filing of certificates of candidacy.
On Sunday, his faction elected Sen. Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III as the chairman of PDP-Laban, effectively removing President Rodrigo Duterte from the position.
The two Mindanaoan politicians figured in a word war as Duterte took offense at Pacquiao's comments on the West Philippine Sea issue and alleged corruption in the government.
Pacquiao was later removed as acting president of PDP-Laban by the Cusi faction, but the senator's camp refused to accept it.
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