Presidential candidate and Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao will be campaigning in four cities in Negros Occidental on Friday, April 1, former Bacolod mayor and representative Monico Puentevella said on Tuesday, March 29.
Puentevella refuted rumors Pacquiao will back out of the presidential race in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo.
Pacquiao has stated “very clearly that he is not thinking of withdrawal at all, I don’t know where these rumors are coming from”, Puentevella said.
“He is a fighter, he believes in himself,” the former mayor added.
Pacquiao will arrive at the Bacolod Silay Airport from Iloilo City at 10 a.m. Friday, and his first stop will be in Silay City, Puentevella said.
He will meet with Silay Mayor Mark Golez and campaign at the Silay Public Market.
Pacquiao will then proceed to Talisay City to meet with Mayor Neil Lizares and visit the Talisay Public Market.
This will be followed by a courtesy call on Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson at the Capitol in Bacolod and lunch at the Bantug Lake Ranch with Team Asenso Bacolod members led by mayoral bet Albee Benitez, Puentevella said.
In the afternoon, Pacquiao is tentatively set to pay a courtesy call on Bago City Mayor Nicholas Yulo, and visit the Bago Public Market, the former mayor said.
Pacquiao will also visit the Sum-ag, Libertad and Central markets in Bacolod City, he added.
There will be no rally at the Bacolod Public Plaza as initially proposed as Pacquiao is set to have dinner with local pastors, Puentevella said.
On Saturday, Pacquiao will proceed to Dumaguete City, he added.
Puentevella did not name the vice presidential bet whom her will support.
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Asked whom he is supporting for Bacolod congressman, Puentevella said all he can say is he loves Team Asenso.
In Bacolod City, he is campaigning for mayoral candidate Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and his son, Kalaw, for councilor, and “the rest, may the best man win”, he said.*