Reelectionist Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri will remain in the senatorial slate of Sen. Manny Pacquiao even as he openly endorsed another presidential candidate in the May 9 elections, the boxer-turned-politician said Wednesday.
Pacquiao said he would continue to support Zubiri, who is also a Mindanao, despite supporting the candidacy of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to ensure that Mindanao and Visayas will be represented in the Senate.
Zubiri's representation of Visayan-speaking Filipinos in the Senate is more important than his personal feelings, Pacquiao added. He has openly criticized the Marcos family over their ill-gotten wealth which he said should be returned to the government.
"Gusto ko manalo naman yan dahil Mindanaoan. Ang intensyon ko, hindi ito pansarili, kundi ang interes ng ating bayan," Pacquiao said during his campaign sortie in Caloocan City as he expressed support for Zubiri.
"Hanggang walang development na mangyayari sa Mindanao, huwag kayo mag-isip na magiging payapa ang Mindanao," he added.
Zubiri was earlier removed from the senatorial slate of fellow senators Panfilo Lacson and Vicente Sotto III after endorsing and even raising the hand of Marcos during a joint campaign rally in Bukidnon last week.
Apart from Pacquiao's slate, Zubiri is also a part of the senatorial lineup of Vice President Leni Robredo as a guest candidate.
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