Senator Manny Pacquiao is now president of PDP-Laban, the political party of President Rodrigo Duterte, as the boxer-turned-politician is rumored to be gunning for the presidency in the 2022 elections.

This was confirmed by PDP-Laban executive director Ron Munsayac on Wednesday night, December 2.

Pacquiao is taking over from former party president and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who is now PDP-Laban’s executive vice chairman. House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco is the party’s new executive vice president.

Pacquiao and Velasco were sworn into their new posts during the PDP-Laban Fellowship Night held at an events place in Quezon City. They took their oath before Pimentel.

Pacquiao’s 6-year senatorial term ends in 2022, and he is eligible to run for another term or for higher office.

Velasco in October pulled off a coup for the House speakership, deposing Taguig City-Pateros 1st District Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, also a close ally of Duterte despite being from the Nacionalista Party.

Velasco has close ties to the President’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.