Biel Jose Catipon

Upon filing his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the 2025 National and Local Elections, former Senator Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao has criticized political families for treating “politics as a business,” despite having relatives also aiming for government positions.

Photo Courtesy of Rappler/Daily Tribune.

Pacquiao, after his failed presidential run in 2022, filed his COC, vying for a Senate comeback, before the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) at the Manila Hotel Tent City on Monday, October 7.

“Sasabihin ko sa inyo ang totoo, ito ang reality sa larangan ng politika ngayon. They make politics as a business….hindi ko naman nilalahat…,” said Pacquiao, who is part of Alyansa Para Sa Bagong Pilipinas, the senatorial slate of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos.

His son Michael Stephen Pacquiao also filed his COC as a councilor in General Santos City under the People’s Champ Movement (PCM) political party on October 5.

The former senator’s wife and Sarangani ex-Vice Governor, Jinkee Pacquiao, is seeking a seat in the House of Representatives as the second nominee of the Maharlikang Pilipino sa Bagong Lipunan (MPBL) Party-list.

The elder Pacquiao asserted that everyone has the right to run, as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“Ang Konstitusyon natin, ang batas natin [ay] nagsasaad, nagsasabi na lahat [ay] may karapatan na tumakbo basta ikaw ay qualified sa mga requirements….marunong kang bumasa, marunong kang sumulat. Eh kapag hindi mo pinatakbo yung isang tao, inalisan mo [siya] ng karapatan,” Pacquiao added, citing that restricting someone from running for office would contradict the law.

He then expressed his openness in following an anti-political dynasty law after its implementation.

“Kung may batas na mapasa about sa anti-dynasty, why not? Bakit hindi natin sundin. I-implement natin. Wala pong problema,” he added.

It can be remembered that during one of the presidential debates in 2022, Pacquiao expressed similar sentiments. 

He stated that he is in favor of prohibiting political dynasties but, being in a democratic country, justifies the existence of these families. 

“Ang pinakaproblema po talaga, yung mga nagsasamantala [at] nagnanakaw d’yan…,” Pacquiao said, arguing that the problem lies with politicians who abuse their power and disobey the laws.

In 2019, Pacquiao was the Senate’s top absentee, recording 12 absences out of 61 plenary sessions from July 2018 to June 2019.