Manny Pacquiao is a Philippine legislator who has served in both chambers of Congress since 2010. He first gained acclaim as a world-class champion boxer and juggled his careers as a public official and athlete until 2021 when he announced his retirement from the sport. The boxer-turned-legislator is also a preacher and founded the church Word for Everyone Ministries International, Inc. in 2012.
Pacquiao has consistently been noted for being the top absentee among lawmakers and for penning a relatively low number of laws and bills. He principally authored the National Bible Day Act and the Handbook for OFWs Act of 2017.
Citing his religious beliefs as a born-again Christian, Pacquiao has expressed support for the LGBTQ community but not same-sex marriage. In 2016, he drew ire both locally and internationally for derogatory remarks he made about the minority group.
He previously supported the reinstatement of the death penalty for the manufacturing and trafficking of illegal drugs but, like other candidates seeking higher office, reversed his position in Nov. 2021.
Pacquiao is campaigning on ridding the country of corruption, criminality, and poverty, though he has not published any concrete policy proposals as of this writing.
He has said that religious leaders, especially from evangelical groups, will be part of his Cabinet and anti-corruption task force if elected.
The candidate's top priorities if elected to office, tracked against previous promises and accomplishments, if any
- Previously questioned the lack of a uniform contact tracing mobile application for COVID-19
- Urged more efficient pandemic management through mass testing and effective contact tracing
- Proposed minimum salary of P50,000 for healthcare workers on top of special risk allowance and other perks
- Opposed the imposition of restrictions against unvaccinated individuals
- Called for the suspension of political gatherings and parties amid the coronavirus pandemic
Says eradicating corruption in government is his top priority, vowing to go after and jail corrupt officials himself if elected
- Held a press conference in July 2021 alleging that P10.4 billion in aid had been lost to corruption at the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
- Also claimed to have proof of wide-scale corruption across “every branch of government," including the Department of Health, which he accused of buying expired medicines. Both departments denied his allegations.
- After his press conference, Pacquiao said he would refer documents detailing the alleged corruption to the Senate blue ribbon committee.
- However, Sen. Richard Gordon, the panel’s chairman, told reporters later that week that he had yet to receive documents from Pacquiao’s office. A legislative probe on the matter has yet to be launched as of this writing.
The candidate's top five accomplishments and contributions for the last 15 years or so
Pacquiao has consistently been noted for penning a relatively low number of bills and for being the top absentee among lawmakers during both his stints in Congress.
Throughout his first term in the Senate, he authored 10 laws and co-authored 15 others, according to records on the chamber's official website.
In the House of Representatives, only one law passed from 2010-2016 was principally authored by Pacquiao, per the Legislative Information System. The law in question, R.A. 10828, established a regular district branch of the Land Transportation Office in Sarangani province.
Author in the Senate, 2020
Signed into law Oct. 14, 2021
Author in the Senate, 2020
Signed into law March 24, 2020
Author in the Senate, 2016
Signed into law Jan. 6, 2019
Principal author and co-sponsor in the Senate, 2018
Signed into law July 23, 2018
Author in the Senate, 2017
Signed into law Feb. 22, 2019
Professional Boxer
Retired
Founder, preacher
Ongoing
Entertainer
Ongoing
Basketball Player, 2014
Retired
Actions and/or proceedings pending against or resolved in courts or tribunals involving the candidate, based on publicly available information
Also known as SALN, this document is a declaration of one's personal finances. Philippine Law requires the SALN to be submitted by all public officials and employees to the Ombudsman. Public officials and employees may opt to voluntarily disclose their SALN to the public.
* As of Dec. 31, 2020
Key details about the candidate's campaign
Salvador “Buddy” Zamora II
Lito Atienza, running mate in 2022 election
Candidate's major donors and campaign funding sources
The candidate's top advocacies in the last 15 years or so
2022 - Changed stance as a presidential candidate
Intends to “hold” SB No. 198 seeking the reimposition of capital punishment
2016-present - As senator
The 18th Congress will adjourn without passing the SOGIE bill despite the fact that the House of Representatives unanimously approved its own version of the bill as early as 2017.
2021-present - As presidential candidate
Pacquiao at the same press conference said he would not stop lawmakers from passing a divorce bill as president but would not support its passage.
2021-present - As presidential candidate
If elected, Pacquiao says he will “review” how much money was stolen by the Marcos family in order to ensure that the money is returned to the Philippines.
This figure (around P300 billion) is already publicly available and the amount still left to be retrieved is updated by the Presidential Commission on Good Government, the quasi-judicial agency tasked with recovering ill-gotten wealth accumulated by the Marcos family and its associates.
Basic information on the candidate's family, background and work experience
- Rosalio Pacquiao, father
- Dionisia Dapidran, mother
- Emmanuel “ Jimuel” Pacquiao Jr., amateur boxer
- Michael Stephen Pacquiao
- Mary Divine Grace “Princess” Pacquiao
- Queen Elizabeth “Queenie” Pacquiao
- Israel Pacquiao
•High School Diploma, High School Equivalency Exam, 2007
•10-day crash course on Development Legislation and Governance, Graduate School of Public and Development Management at the Development Academy of the Philippines, 2010
•Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science Majoring in Local Government Administration through the Expanded Tertiary Education Equivalency and Accreditation Program (ETEEAP), Philippine Councilors League-Legislative Academy ,2019
•Honoris Causa, Doctorate of Humanities, Southwestern University, 2009
•Professional Boxer
•Representative Sarangani Province, 15th Congress, 2010 to 2013
•Representative Sarangani Province, 16th Congress, 2013 to 2016
•Senator, 17th Congress, 2016
