In his 2022 presidential bid, former Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Dapidran Pacquiao Sr. swore to fight corruption, strengthen the economy, and provide Filipinos with more employment opportunities. This year, Pacquiao is once again gunning for a Senate seat. The former professional boxer and “Pambansang Kamao” has adopted the same platforms for the 2025 elections, but will that be enough to land him in the legislature?
Current occupation: Businessman, Evangelical Christian preacher (since 2012), Actor (since 2005)
Education: BA in Political Science from the University of Makati (2019), Master of Public Administration from Philippine Christian University (2022)
Previous occupations: Senator (2016-2022), Sarangani Representative (2010-2016), Singer (2006-2015), Professional Boxer (1995-2021)
Affiliated parties: Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas, Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (since 2024), PROMDI (2021-2024), PDP (since 2016), People’s Champ Movement (since 2009)
Political Stances
Governance
One of Pacquiao’s main platforms for the senatorial elections is anti-corruption. After filing his certificate of candidacy in October 2024, the former lawmaker said, “Ang makikita nila ‘yong paglaban natin sa korapsyon, mga nagnanakaw sa ating gobyerno at inumpisahan natin yan nung nasa Senado tayo at may mga napakulong na rin tayo na sangkot sa korapsyon.” He added that he plans to continue investigating corruption in the government.
Pacquiao has several relatives in local government positions: Sarangani Governor Rogelio Pacquiao is his brother, Maasim, Sarangani Mayor Zyrex Pacquiao is his cousin and General Santos City Mayor Lorelle Pacquiao is his sister-in-law. His wife, former Sarangani Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao, is also the Maharlikang Pilipino sa Bagong Lipunan partylist for the 2025 elections.
“Unfair naman sa mga pamilya na nagserbisyo nang tapat, malaki ang nagawang pagbabago sa kanilang lugar at tumutulong sa taong bayan,” he said in April 2022. “Hindi naman lahat nagnanakaw sa gobyerno.”
He has expressed interest in reinstating the death penalty, but also said that it can only be reinstated if the justice system is reformed. “Hindi siguro tama pa o nararapat pa na i-activate ngayon [ang death penalty] dahil masyado pang sabog-sabog at ‘di maayos ang judicial system natin,” he said in a Teleradyo interview in December 2021.
During the interpellation stage of the bill that would tax and legalize Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) in 2021, Pacquiao questioned the number of POGOs and POGO workers in the country, citing discrepancies between the numbers given by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and data from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation. He also said that while he did not have a problem with POGOs as long as they were taxed, crimes related to POGO operations were concerning.
In June 2019, the Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau (PRIB) reported that Pacquiao had incurred 12 absences out of 61 plenary sessions since July 2018 — the worst attendance record for senators in the third session of the 17th Congress.
Economy
During the 2022 presidential debates, Pacquiao promised to prioritize job creation and minimize bureaucracy in the government to attract foreign investments. In February 2025, he said in an ANC interview that micro, small, and medium enterprises should be strengthened to increase the country’s employment rates.
Human Rights and Social Justice
Pacquiao is the principal author of the 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law and the Handbook of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) Act of 2018, which provides OFWs with a comprehensive guide to their rights, benefits, and responsibilities.
In February 2016, Pacquiao said that homosexuals are worse than animals and that he did not approve of same-sex unions due to his religious beliefs. Explaining why he does not support the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill, he said in February 2017 that cross-dressing was against religious teachings. He also said that allowing people to cross-dress would lead to “fraud,” erroneously citing the case of trans woman Jennifer Laude, who was killed by United States Marine Joseph Scott Pemberton in 2014 after he found out she was transgender. “Doon pa lang, makikita natin ‘yong deception na naloko si Pemberton,” he said.
He has also opposed the legalization of divorce in the country, citing religious beliefs.
While Pacquiao attended the Indigenous Peoples Games in General Santos City in October 2024, he has not yet shared his views on concerns regarding the rights of indigenous peoples.
Healthcare
Pacquiao co-authored the National Integrated Cancer Control Act, which established the National Integrated Cancer Control Program and the Philippine Cancer Center. He also co-authored the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, which provides for HIV-AIDS education, prevention, and treatment and aims to eliminate discrimination and stigma surrounding the disease.
National Security and Foreign Policy
Pacquiao believes that the Philippines should rejoin the International Criminal Court, stating in 2022 that it has the right to investigate the extrajudicial killings and the war on drugs that took place during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, with whom he was allied with prior to the 2022 presidential elections.
In 2022, he also said that he would form a peace panel with China to discuss disputes over the West Philippine Sea, but he also said that the Philippines is ready to go to war if matters ever escalated. “‘Pag dumating ang scenario na ‘yan, tayong mga Pilipino, tayo ay palaban e. ‘Di lamang sa bansang Tsina, sa buong mundo, ang Pilipino, hindi tayo umaatras. Kaya nating ibuwis ang buhay natin para sa ating bansa,” he said.
He said that indigenous peoples’ turn to insurgency because of corruption and negligence in government. “‘Yong mga pondo na napupunta dapat sa pagpapatayo ng mga paaralan, paglalagay ng mga kalsada sa kanayunan at pagbibigay ng kabuhayan ay napupunta sa mga kurap at mga ganid na pulitiko,” he said in a speech after members of the New People’s Army (NPA) allegedly surrendered in Bukidnon in February 2021. In 2022, he promised to resume peace talks with the National Democratic Front if elected president and claimed that if he had not been a boxer, he also would have joined the NPA.
Environment and Disaster Preparedness
In December 2021, Pacquiao suggested setting up a “super-agency,” integrating the Climate Change Commission with the proposed Department of Disaster Resilience, emphasizing that climate change response is important for mitigating damage from natural calamities. “I grew up in Mindanao and we never really experienced strong typhoons. Biyaya para sa aming mga taga-Mindanao ang tubig,” he said. “Ngayon lang talaga namin nararanasan ang mga ganitong kalalakas na mga bagyo.”
Disinformation
Pacquiao has been the target of disinformation. In January 2018, former Presidential Communications Operations Office Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy apologized to him for earlier claiming that he had a mistress. He also said he would file a complaint against Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy after the pastor — currently detained for sexual misconduct — falsely claimed that the former legislator owned a P3.5 billion project in Sarangani.
To address concerns regarding disinformation in the country, Pacquiao said that the government should take control of social media. “Kailangan magising ang ating gobyerno na lahat ng social media ay ma-control ng gobyerno. Kasi sa ibang bansa controlled naman eh, dito lang sa ating bansa pinapabayaan natin,” he said in 2022.
Infrastructure Development
Pacquiao is the principal author of the Free Internet Access in Public Places Act, which requires public places like government offices, public schools and state universities, public libraries, and transportation terminals to provide free internet access.
In 2021, he filed a bill seeking to establish a 30-year infrastructure program that covers transportation, energy, water resources, information and communications technology, and social infrastructure.
He also supports the creation of floating nuclear power plants or nuclear barges to increase the country’s energy supply and bring down electricity prices.
Youth and Culture
During his time in Congress, he co-authored the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, which established the Entrepreneurship Education Committee and set up grants and loans for entrepreneurs from 18 to 30 years old.
As a philanthropist, he has donated money for student scholarships and supported anti-trafficking initiatives under the Manny Pacquiao Foundation. However, he has not been directly involved in other youth and culture-oriented policies or programs in the government.
Sara Duterte Impeachment
While Pacquiao has not given a definitive opinion regarding the impeachment of Vice President Sara Duterte, he said during an Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas Rally on February 20 that the impeachment process is complicated. “Sana ‘wag haluan ng negatibong interpretation ang proseso ng batas natin,” he said.
Ahead of the midterm elections, Rolling Stone Philippines is taking a closer look at the Top 15 senatorial candidates based on the January 2025 surveys by polling firms Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia.
