MANILA, Philippines—Newly retired boxing star Manny Pacquiao filed his certificate of candidacy for the Philippine presidency Friday as registration opened for candidates seeking to lead a Southeast Asian nation that has been hit hard by the pandemic and deep political conflicts.
Elections officials placed heavy restrictions to prevent the Oct. 1–8 registration period from drawing huge crowds of political supporters and becoming hotbeds for COVID-19 infections. Aside from the presidency and vice presidency, more than 18,000 national, local, and congressional posts will be contested in the elections on May 9, 2022.
