Pacquaio clashes with Duterte as boxer ponders presidential bid

Tensions rise in ruling party over South China Sea policy, succession plans

A feud over the disputed South China Sea erupted this week between Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and boxer-turned-politician Manny Pacquiao. (Source photos by Ken Kobayashi and Shinya Sawai)

CLIFF VENZON, Nikkei staff writer

June 10, 2021 15:11 JST

MANILA -- Philippine Sen. Manny Pacquiao is facing increasingly hostile party allies, including President Rodrigo Duterte, complicating the boxer-turned-politician's bid to win endorsement for his possible presidential run next year.

Duterte is the chairman and Pacquiao is the president of the ruling PDP-Laban party, but the pair have clashed over the South China Sea territorial dispute -- a key policy issue for the president. Friction between Pacquiao and other senior party officers also has grown over presidential succession plans.