Don't run, stay as sports icon, supporters advise Pacquiao

MANILA, Philippines - When the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter comes back to his homeland on May 8, he will not only be greeted with revelry. Manny Pacquiao will also have himself immersed in political mud after announcing that he would pursue his ambition of becoming a congressman. Could Pacman reverse his 2007 congressional knockout and triumph in his renewed move to be declared as Rep. Pacquiao of Sarangani province in the 2010 polls? The prevailing perception, even among his supporters, is that the revered Pacquiao should stick to being the world’s sports hero. A Palace official leads the opposition to Pacquiao’s political ambition. He says that while Pacquiao rules in the world of sports, he might find it difficult to survive in the dirty-and-money draining world of politics. “He is being idolized as a boxer, but we don’t know if he would be a good politician. Baka d’yan siya ma-knockout [He might be knocked out in politics]", said Cabinet Secretary Silvestro Bello III. Remain a national icon An official of the Commission on Elections agrees. “We know that politics is divisive. I think that will not help the Filipinos and Manny, so my advice is [for him] to remain a national icon, a national symbol of unity," says Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento. This is also the gist of Akbayan party-list Rep. Ana Theresia Hontiveros’ unsolicited advice to Pacquiao. She thinks that many of Pacquiao’s fans would be “disillusioned" if he would “taint his real power" by joining politics. The business sector’s sentiment is also the same. Business leaders from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) claimthat Pacquiao will best serve the Philippines “by staying on his pedestal." “If he wins as a local official and he governs well, then the success of Sarangani will definitely be a contribution to the collective economic development of the country. But Pacquiao may best serve the country by staying on his pedestal. Be a hero, an icon, a model," says PCCI President Edgardo G. Lacson. Pacquiao bent on running On Tuesday night, Pacquiao, who is still in Los Angeles, confirmed to reporters that he would run for a congressional seat in Sarangani in the 2010 elections. “Yes, yes. Kaya Sinabi ko mag-offer ako ng tulong, ng serbisyo sa kanila [Yes, yes. That’s why I said I would offer help and service to the people]," said Pacquiao when asked by GMA News to confirm his reported plan to run for Congress. 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 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 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 poll body. Even fans don’t agree Earlier, Pacquiao made several attempts to gain 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, the political party of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. 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