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Pacquiao party likely to get Comelec nod, poll exec says

By SOPHIA DEDACE, GMANews.TV

From welterweight champ to political heavyweight? From light welterweight champ to a political heavyweight? Boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny" Pacquiao has not given up his political ambition. In fact, he is hell-bent on re-entering the political arena. Four days before his fight with Oscar Dela Hoya last December 7, Pacquiao, through his counsel, moved to have his political party – the People’s Champ Movement – recognized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). In an interview with reporters in December 2008, Pacquiao reiterated his desire to enter politics. The boxing superstar was quoted as saying that his electoral bid in Sarangani province was “final, no retreat, no surrender." Five months later, on May 4, Pacquiao’s resolve was proven when it was reported that his party had indeed filed a petition to have it recognized by the Comelec. Arroyo party member Does his move for his political party signify that Pacquiao will finally leave the boxing ring? In early September 2008, Pacquiao made a surprise announcement that he would retire in August 2009 possibly after two more fights with boxing champs Ricky Hatton and Floyed Mayweather Jr. A few days before his announcement, on August 31, 2008, Pacquiao took his oath as member of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), the political party of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Pacquiao, who took his oath before Kampi chair and Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno, said he decided to join Mrs. Arroyo’s party to show Filipinos that he “could also be champion when it comes to helping our countrymen." “Ang pagpasok ko sa pulitika ay para ipakita na champion din ako sa pagtulong sa ating mga kababayan [I entered politics to show that I can also be a champion in helping our countrymen]," Pacquiao said during the simple oath-taking rites held at Puno’s office in Camp Crame in Quezon City. Fans rejoice over defeat Pacquiao’s latest move to enter politics was among his several attempts to gain a position in the government. In 2007, Pacquiao ran for a congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato as an adopted member of Kampi. He, however, lost to re-electionist Darlene Antonino-Custodio who knocked out Pacman with a wide margin of 37,000 votes. Many of Pacquiao’s fans did not appreciate his entry to politics. In fact, many of his supporters rejoiced when Pacquiao badly lost in his political bid. For his fans, Pacquiao’s defeat in the political arena meant the assurance of Pacman’s triumph in the boxing ring. Shortly after his defeat, Jose Sulaiman, head of the World Boxing Council, was quoted as saying that Pacquiao “doesn’t appear to be having the same dynamic impact at the ballot box, as he does in the ringed square." Before he pushed for his congressional bid, Pacquiao was reportedly eyed as vice-mayoral candidate to Arnold “Ali" Atienza, son of former Manila mayor Jose “Lito" Atienza, the boxer’s patron and now the secretary of the Environment department. Pacquiao’s name was also floated as General Santos City mayoral candidate under the Lakas-CMD party. - GMANews.TV
MANILA, Philippines - The People's Champ Movement (PCM), the political party of boxing icon Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao, will likely be recognized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec). "Kumpleto naman 'yong mga dokumento, mga ebidensiya kaya wala naman kaming nakikitang mali [The documents and evidence are complete, thus we do not see any problem]," Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer told GMANews.TV in a phone interview on Tuesday. Asked if PCM would likely be accredited by the poll body, Ferrer said: "Yes. Dito naman sa amin, sa political parties lenient kami basta may compliance [Yes. The Comelec is lenient on political parties that comply with requirements]." The Comelec's Second Division headed by Ferrer, heard PCM's petition last week. The petition was filed by Pacquiao's party counsel, Minveles Beloncio-Gulle, last December 3 or four days before Pacman's bout with Oscar dela Hoya in Las Vegas. Pacquiao's party had satisfied all the requirements, including the publication of the petition in three broadsheets of general circulation, according to Ferrer. Without giving a definite date, the poll official said the petition would soon be raffled off among the three division members to decide on who would be the ponente or the writer of the decision that would likely favor PCM. The two other members of the division are commissioners Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle. Only for local positions The PCM is a local party that can only field candidates for local positions in General Santos City and Sarangani province. Pacquiao is PCM's president and Reynaldo Constantino Jr. is the party executive vice president. In his previous fights, Pacquiao was introduced as hailing from General Santos City. But during his latest match with British slugger Ricky Hatton last May 3 (Manila time), announcer Michael Buffer said Pacquiao was from Sarangani province. Could the change in Pacquiao’s introduction lend credence to speculations that he is eyeing a congressional seat in Sarangani in the 2010 polls? In late 2008, Pacquiao registered at the Comelec office in Kiamba, Sarangani, where his wife, Jinkee, is a resident. This was around the time that the boxing superstar was quoted in a television interview that his electoral bid in Sarangani was “final, no retreat, no surrender." But for Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento, Pacquiao would do better in the boxing ring than in the political ring. “We know that politics is divisive. I think that will not help the Filipinos and Manny, so my advice is to remain a national icon, a national symbol of unity," he was quoted as saying over QTV’s News on Q on Monday. Comelec chairman Jose Melo, for his part, said that while there might be a conflict of interest on the part of Pacquiao in having his party recognized, the poll body would welcome anyone who would support the poll body's campaign for clean elections. For his part, Ferrer said he saw nothing wrong with Pacquiao’s possible congressional bid. “There is no prohibition for a president of a local party to become a candidate," he said. - GMANews.TV
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