MANILA: Philippine boxing hero Manny Pacquiao has no immediate plans to run for president, his chief aide said yesterday, following a fierce political backlash to comments he wanted to lead his country.
The “Pacman” was pummelled by Filipino politicians and on social media after he said in Macau at the weekend he aspired to be president, with critics saying this meant he planned to run in 2016, chief of staff Franklin Gacal said.
“He knows very well that he will not be qualified to run for president in 2016 because of the age requirement,” Gacal said.
The constitution says a presidential candidate must be at least 40 years old on election day.
Gacal insisted that the 34-year-old Pacquiao, a former world champion in eight weight divisions who is now serving a second term in the lower house of the Philippine parliament, knows his law. He said Pacquiao was “saddened” by the ferocity of criticism over his comments, while promoting his November fight with American Brandon Rios in Macau.
“He was ridiculed on the Internet as somebody who does not know his law,” he said.
Politicians had criticised Pacquiao on television, newspapers and radio for the past two days, Gacal added.
AFP
