Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Wednesday rejected calls for him to drop his presidential bid and run for vice president instead, saying he wanted to fight for poor Filipinos.
Pacquiao was responding to Sen. Imee Marcos, who said her senate colleague was being considered as possible running mate of her brother, former Sen. Bongbong Marcos.
"While I'm flattered of various camps seeking me to be their VP, it requires the presidency para magawa ang mga pangako ko sa mga mahihirap at sa mga nagsisikap na mula sa hirap," Pacquiao said in response to Imee Marcos.
"Although I am touched and extremely honored, tuloy ang laban natin sa pagkapangulo," he added.
The Marcos family prefers Bongbong's running mate to come from Visayas or Mindanao to solidify their support from the entire country, Imee said.
"Very obvious naman yung preference namin, sinasabing may Solid North, medyo mas malaki kami sa Norte.... So naturally, we're bending towards the Mindanao and Visayas candidates," she told TeleRadyo in an interview on Wednesday.
"We also like the idea, siyempre taga-Mindanao din, kung mags-slide naman si Sen. Manny Pacquiao, taga-Mindanao din yan, super popular din. Kaibigan din natin yan kahit may mga pitik-pitik lately," she added.
Pacquiao earlier called on the Marcos family to return their ill-gotten wealth to the Filipino people as he presented himself as a presidential candidate who will rid the government of corruption.
"Nakita ko firsthand ang mga problema ng bansa na malaki ang agwat ng mayaman at mga mahihirap dahil sa mga policy na ipinapatupad," he said.
"[Tuloy ang laban] para sa pagbabago at para sugpuin ang corruption na lumalala sa bansa. I will not fail the people," he added.
MORE ON MANNY PACQUIAO:
Manny Pacquiao: From Street Kid to Boxing Superstar
Can Manny Pacquiao Govern as President Philippines?
Manny Pacquaio Greatest Fights: Why He's a Boxing Legend
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