Known as the People’s Champ, Senator Manny Pacquiao was the first to file a Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for president, together with Buhay-Party List Representative Lito Atienza as his running mate on October 1, Friday.

Pacquiao is supported by an alliance composed of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Probinsya Muna Development Initiative (Promdi), and the People’s Champ Movement (PCM). He explained that an alliance was formed due to the ongoing problem with PDP-Laban. 

A former congressman of Sarangani Province who became a Senator in 2016, Pacquiao has been in politics for more than a decade. 

As for choosing Atienza as his running mate, Pacquiao said, “I chose Congressman Atienza for he has served the public for more than 50 years. His sincerity, expertise, and real desire to help the country.”

Jose “Lito” Livioko Atienza Jr. served as the Party-list Representative for Buhay since 2013, and as a House Deputy Speaker since November 2020. He served as the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources from 2007 to 2009 in the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and served three consecutive terms as Mayor of Manila from 1998 to 2007.

Atienza said he agreed to run as Pacquiao’s running mate as he supports his advocacies. 

“I believe that Manny Pacquiao is the only hope we have in improving our lives, much like how he changed his life from poverty to become the best boxer in the world,” he said.

In the most recent Pulse Asia survey, Pacquiao ranked fourth among other presidentiables  but this does not bother him. “A survey is just a number. It does not include the voices of the poor people, those who really need our care and love,” Pacquiao said.