Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia yesterday, March 30, said presidential aspirant Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao is “very much welcome here” in the city.
Leonardia made the statement ahead of Pacquiao’s arrival in the city on Friday, April 1.
When asked if he is meeting with the senator, who is his long-time friend, the mayor said “I have no control over that.”
Being one of the closest friends of Pacquiao, Leonardia has been carrying his boxing belt or the Philippine flag in some of his fights abroad.
Aside from that, Leonardia is godfather to the two of the children of Pacquiao.
Under the incumbent mayor’s administration, the boxer turned politician was declared by the city government as an “adopted son of Bacolod.”
But Pacquiao’s campaigner, former Bacolod City mayor Monico Puentevella, said that the senator will meet Leonardia’s challenger, Alfredo “Albee” Benitez, during his visit.
The presidential aspirant will have lunch with Benitez and the Bantug family at the Bantug Lake Ranch in Barangay Alangilan, he said.
Pacquiao is also set to pay a courtesy call to Silay City Mayor Mark Adrew Arthur Golez, Talisay City Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Neil Lizares III, and Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
Leonardia, for his part, said he was told that there was an application by the Pacquiao camp to use the public plaza, but there was some kind of slowdown in the process.
“I interceded and told them to rush and grant them the permit to hold the rally in the plaza,” he said, adding that “I consider him (Pacquiao) as a very good friend and I have high respect for him ever since and until now.”
The mayor said the last time he spoke to the senator was before his latest fight in August last year.
At this point in time, Leonardia said, he told Pacquiao about his commitment to support Davao City Mayor Sara-Duterte Carpio for vice president.
“When I talk to Manny, I am not yet a member of the Nacionalista Party,” he added.
On Tuesday, March 29, the Manny Villar-led Nacionalista Party announced its support to the candidacy of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his runningmate, Duterte-Carpio.
While he had already announced that he is fully supporting the vice presidential bid of Duterte-Carpio, the Bacolod City mayor is yet to announce his bet for the presidency.
Leonardia said he is yet to meet with the party officials.
“So, what is definite with me is I am all out for Mayor Sara Duterte for vice president and I will keep my option for the presidency open in the meantime,” he said.
As a new member of the Nacionalista Party, Leonardia said he doesn’t know exactly its culture as well as its rules and regulations yet.
“Until I am able to sit down and talk with our party hierarchy, I am not going to make any pronouncement,” he added. (With reports from Erwin P. Nicavera)