Esquire Philippines is running a series of profiles on the most high-profile candidates for the position of President of the Philippines during the 2022 elections. This is intended to educate and inform Filipino voters as they make the potentially life-changing decision of choosing the country's next leader.
Full Name: Emmanuel "Manny" Dapidran Pacquiao Sr.
Birthdate: December 17, 1978
Age: 43
Birthplace: Kibawe, Bukidnon Province, Philippines
Religion: Evangelical Protestant
Languages Spoken: Filipino, English
Family
Father: Rosalio Pacquiao
Mother: Dionisia Dapidran Pacquiao
Brother: Alberto "Bobby" Pacquiao, City Councilor of General Santos (2016 to 2019), Member of the Philippines House of Representatives (2019 to present)
Sister: Isidra Pacquiao-Paglinawan
Brother: Rogelio "Ruel" Pacquiao, Barangay Chairman of Apopong (2007-2015), Representative Sarangani Province (2016 to present), Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines (2020 to present)
Brother: Domingo Silvestre
Sister: Liza Silvestre-Onding
Wife: Jinkee Capeña Jamora Pacquiao (1999 to present)
Son: Emmanuel "Jimuel" Pacquiao Jr., Amateur boxer
Son: Michael Stephen Pacquiao
Daughter: Mary Divine Grace "Princess" Pacquiao, YouTube personality
Daughter: Queen Elizabeth "Queenie" Pacquiao
Son: Israel Pacquiao
Education
Elementary: Saavedra Saway Elementary School
Secondary: Passed the Accreditation and Equivalency Test from the Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education
Tertiary: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science-Local Government Administration from the University of Makati (2019)
Government Service
Senator of the Philippines (2016 to present)
Representative of Sarangani Province (2010 to 2016)
Achievements
Manny Pacquiao lists 25 bills that he authored or co-authored that were successfully passed into law. From 2010 to 2016, as the representative of Sarangani, he passed seven laws, one of which he principally authored while he co-authored the rest. He was able to pass an additional 18 laws in his current position as a senator. He principally authored 12 of these and co-authored the remaining six.
He is the principal author of Republic Act 10828, or An Act Establishing A Regular District Office of the Land Transportation Office in the Province of Sarangani and Appropriating Funds Therefor, as on May 19, 2016.
Legal Proceedings
In 2013, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) issued a freeze order on Pacquiao's Philippine bank accounts citing alleged tax deficiencies in 2008 and 2009 amounting to P2.26 billion. The Court of Tax Appeals later ordered the BIR to "cease and desist from implementing the Final Decision on Disputed Assessment (FDDA) and from collecting the subject deficiency tax assessments issued against petitioners for taxable years 2008 and 2009 for lack of merit."
Advocacies and Platforms
Pacquiao's presidential campaign is focused on ending corruption, criminality, and poverty through the application of his conservative views and religious beliefs. At the time of his registration, he said his priority was to "resolve the pandemic so we can drive the economy to recovery." He has also said that his administration would assert the country's rights over the West Philippine Sea, even going as far as saying that he would be ready to go to war.
As an Evangelical Protestant, Pacquiao opposes the legalization of divorce and the passage of the SOGIE (Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression) Equality Bill. Despite being a staunch supporter of the death penalty, he recently changed his stance regarding its reinstatement. As of 2021, he says he will no longer support the death penalty until the judicial system is reformed.
If elected, Pacquiao vows to chase ill-gotten Marcos wealth as part of his anti-graft platform.
Notable Quotes
On leadership: "People would rather follow a leader who is always real than a leader that's always right."
On corruption: "Kung hindi niyo kayang iboto si Manny Pacquiao para kayo ay ipaglaban, ay wag po kayong bumoto siguro ng kandidato na nagnanakaw sa ating gobyerno."
On same-sex marriage: "Hindi ako pabor diyan. Iyan po ay bilang sa paniniwala natin, sa faith natin sa Panginoon, kailangan doon tayo sa gusto ng Panginoon."
On fighting for the poor: "Kaya po ako ganito nakikipaglaban para sa mga mahihirap, kaya ko sinasabi sa inyo rebolusyon ito—ang pakikipaglaban ni Manny para sa mga mahihirap nang mabigyan ng importansya ang mga mahihirap."
