The Freeman

Pacquiao claims victory ahead of May 9 polls

- Mitchelle L. Palaubsano­n/GMR

Senator and presidenti­al candidate Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, in his grand rally dubbed as “Manny Fest” the other night in Cebu City, has already claimed victory in the presidenti­al race as he promised to immediatel­y implement his Pabahay program, jobs generation and livelihood.

“Hayag na atong kadaugan, idol! Hayag na ang kadaugan natong tanan, ilaha na lang nang survey. Naa ang buhing Ginoo mao nay maghatag nato og kadaugan karong Mayo 9,” said Pacquiao to the attendees whom he called in his more than 30-minute speech as “idol” and “igsoon” or siblings.

Pacquiao told them not to believe in surveys as “they are many and even more than 30 million already and still counting” to those who have signed up his Pabahay program”.

Progressiv­e Movement for the Devolution of Initiative­s (PROMDI) chairman Mimo Osmeña assessed Pacquiao’s three-day caravan in Cebu that the response of the public was overwhelmi­ng and people were on the highway for hours just to get to see the former boxing champ.

Osmeña added that the mini rallies were filled with passionate supporters and it seemed that Pacquiao is truly a dark horse that would upset survey results.

“Tahimik lang tayo. Ilaha na ang survey kay ang akong mga botante ang mga pobre. Ang saba sa social media kadtong mga dato nga mga mata pobre. Ang mga pobre intawon dili maka alma. Pero ayaw mo kabalaka daghan kaayo ta sobra, 30 million ta,” said Paquiao, who told the crowd that he and his siblings were being taught by his mother not to steal and never trampled upon the poor and belittled the poor.

The billionair­e senator said with his current status, there is no need for him to steal government money, adding he runs for president with a dream of helping every Filipinos have better lives.

“Si Manny Pacquiao nidagan dili para sa akong kaugalingo­n, dili para sa akong pamilya kun dili ako nidagan para sa katawhan. Igsoon, dili na ko kinahangla­n modato, dili na ko kinahaglan mosikat. Ako lipay kaayo ko, nagpasalam­at sa atong buhing Ginoo nga gitagaan ko og grasya nga sobra sobra,” said Pacquiao, adding he has been sharing his wealth to the poor by building Pacman Village that benefits thousands of families.

“Ang ako dili lang ni pangako. Gibuhat ko na ni ug kung akong ma presidente, mabuhat ko ni sa tibuok nasud,” he added.

“Kutob sa akong mabuhat sa akong kusog nga nahabilin tapos humana man nako og gamit ang akong kusog sulod sa ring, karon gamiton nako ang akong kusog sa pagtabang sa akong mga kaigsoonan. Igsoon mao kana akong commitment, dili lang sa inyuha kay kung sa inyuha lang inig talikod ninyo pwede mabakwi apan ang akong commitment didto sa Ginoo,” said the senator.

He promised to put all corrupt people behind bars as he will review all the contracts of the present administra­tion.

“Sa akong mga kamot sila madisiplin­a,” said the boxing superstar, who tagged corruption as to why there are still plenty of poor Filipinos.

He also talked about the time he experience­d too much poverty with nothing to eat for days, saying he was homeless and shunned away by rich people as he smells bad.

“Mao na ako kabalo ko unsay pobre. Kung akoy ma presidente, dili ko mosugot nga adunay pobre nga daog-daogon. Dili ko mosugot nga adunay pobre nga dili makadawat og hustisya. Busa kitang nga pobre, maghiusa tang tanan karong Mayo 9,” the senator urged the poor Filipinos in the entire country. —

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines