Pacquiao expressed support for Noynoy, LP says

Filipino boxing champ and congressman-elect Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao visited Senator Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III Tuesday night and offered his support for the likely winner in the 2010 presidential elections, the Liberal Party said Wednesday. LP spokesman and Quezon Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III and Aquino's spokesman Edwin Lacierda both confirmed to GMANews.TV that Pacquiao paid a visit to Aquino's home in Times Street, Quezon City. "He [Pacquiao] did [meet with Aquino] yesterday," Tañada said in a text message.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV In a separate text message, Lacierda said Pacquiao "expressed his support for the president-elect and promised to support his [Aquino's] agenda." Pacquiao was with his wife Jinkee and chief of staff Jayke Joson during the visit, which reportedly lasted less than an hour. "Magkumare si Kris (Aquino) at Jinkee. Meet and greet lang, isinama lang ni Jinkee si Manny," Joson told GMANews.TV in a phone interview, referring to Aquino's younger sister. He added: "Parang big brother si Sen Noynoy na nag-advise kay Congressman Pacquiao na ito ang mga dapat gawin, strategy at programs, kung ano ang dapat isuot." Noynoy leading partial, unofficial tally According to the partial and unofficial tally of election returns, Aquino has a five-million-vote lead over his closest rival in the presidential race, former president Joseph Estrada. Congress is set to convene as the national board of canvassers next week to officially start canvassing of the votes for president and vice president. After an unsuccessful bid for a House seat as South Cotabato representative in the 2007 elections, Pacquiao ran and won in the May 2010 elections as Sarangani representative. During the campaign, he supported Aquino's erstwhile closest rival, Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Senator Manny Villar Jr. But even though he pledged support for Aquino, Pacquiao did not promise to vote for congressman-elect Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr. or any other congressman the LP will field for the House Speakership, Lacierda said. "No such offer," said Lacierda. For his part, Joson said that Pacquiao, being a symbol of unity, does not like a divided country. "Since incoming president, kung sino man ang manalo kahit hindi si Noynoy o si Villar, susuportahan ni Pacquiao dahil siya ay isang patriot. Pag lumalaban siya as a boxer ay dinadala niya ang Pilipinas," Joson said. — Johanna Camille Sisante and Amita Legaspi/RSJ/KBK, GMANews.TV