“I am a fighter and I will always be a fighter, in and out of the ring,” Pacquiao said in his speech. At the beginning of December last year, the former boxing world champion in eight different weight classes was appointed the new chairman of President Duterte’s party.
The next presidential election in the Southeast Asian country is due in 2022, and according to the constitution, Duterte is not allowed to run again. Instead, the controversial current head of state announced that he would run as Vice President. Pacquiao is a folk hero in the Philippines. In addition to his boxing successes, he went into politics in 2010. He has been a senator since 2016.
The incumbent President Duterte is best known internationally for his extremely tough crackdown on drug-related crime. According to the Philippine police, at least 7,000 people were killed. The International Criminal Court is investigating alleged murders in the context. Observers emphasize that Duterte will do everything possible to maintain political influence and immunity after the election next year in order to avoid possible criminal proceedings. There are enormous social disparities in the Philippines – a country of over 106 million people. (SDA)