Pacquiao declares support for Duterte during oath-taking

MANILA, Philippines – The world boxing champion and now incoming Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao on Wednesday afternoon took his oath of office at the Sarangani Provincial Gymnasium, Sarangani province.

During his oath, Pacquiao, who said he is not only representing locals of Sarangani but also the Mindanaoans, declared his support to fellow Mindanaoan, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte. Duterte was also present to witness the ceremony.

“This is a different fight now but I know I am not alone… I will not do it alone. We will tap all the available resources. We will utilize all the networks and maximize all partnership. This afternoon, I declare my wholehearted support to our president Rodrigo Roa Duterte,” Pacquiao said in his televised oath-taking.

Pacquiao also urged the public to support Duterte.

“Our common desire is to love our country like sa ating susunod na magiging pangulo (Duterte) mahal na mahal niya ang ating bansa kailangan suportahan natin. Our common dream is to improve the lives of our fellow Filipinos. Our common vision is to see the Philippines rise to new levels of development,” Pacquiao said.

“We will accomplish all of this by God’s grace. God can do anything you know from more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams,” he added.

Doing good with ‘common sense’

Pacquiao also said that as he takes his journey to the Senate, he will uphold his asset “common sense” to do what’s right for the good of the public.

“As champions, we are solution providers. As solution providers, we will uphold the common sense. Common sense is sound judgment and right action in practical matters,” the neophyte senator said

“Oo common sense, ‘yan ang meron ako, common sense na gawin ang tama,” he stated.

Meanwhile, Duterte who also delivered a speech in Pacquiao’s oath-taking and recognized his “years of friendship” with the senator. He said Pacquiao urged him to run last year but he declined.

Pacquiao ran under the United Nationalist Alliance and supported Duterte’s rival Vice President Jejomar Binay. Duterte, however, continued to support Pacquiao’s senatorial bid and even endorsed him during his miting de avance, even if the latter was not on his senatorial slate.