Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III believes Senator Manny Pacquiao is a good choice to be the standard bearer of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) party in the 2022 national polls.

“I think he will be a good choice of the party to push for president but of course, running should be voluntary, the person should be willing to run for that particular position,” Pimentel, the PDP-Laban executive vice chairman, said in a television interview.

“It seems that he has been preparing for this possibility. He has many ideas and he has been explaining his ideas, the program of the government, his platform,” he added.

Pimentel also said that Pacquiao enjoys support from “many people.”

“They are consulting with him, telling him their problems, sharing with him, dialoguing with him so this is what we need. This is the leader that we need. The president that we need, number one, who has the plan for the country, who has the right heart,” Pimentel said.

The PDP-Laban has yet to make an official announcement on its standard bearer for 2022 although the party during its recent national assembly in Cebu formally urged President Rodrigo Duterte to run for vice president. Duterte is the chairman of the PDP-Laban.

The holding of the national assembly in Cebu, which had the blessings of Duterte, was opposed by Pacquiao.