Duterte Pacquiao rift could open door to presidential rivals
Al Jazeera
Analysts say political split between the president and the international boxing champion is a ‘lose-lose’ scenario for both in 2022.
Mindanao, Philippines – Following his WBO welterweight victory in Las Vegas in November 2016, international boxing champion Manny Pacquiao paid President Rodrigo Duterte a visit at the Malacanang presidential palace in Manila.
Greeting Pacquiao in front of a media scrum, Duterte raised the first-term senator’s left hand and declared, “This one’s for president”, seemingly anointing a possible successor, who was grinning from ear to ear as the cameras flashed.
A month later, at the boxer’s 38th birthday celebrations, the Philippine president again heaped praise on Pacquiao, calling him “president-to-be” in front of his family and thousands of supporters in the city of General Santos in the southern island of Mindanao.
