Sarangani folk scrambling to join Pacquiao political party

MANILA, Philippines – People from Sarangani province are scrambling to become part of the People’s Champ Movement, the political party formed by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. A report on QTV’s Balitanghali quoted Pacquiao as saying that application forms for the party had already run out. The world’s best pound-for-pound boxer had declared his intent to seek a congressional seat in the province for the 2010 elections. The report added that Pacquiao likewise established communication with rival parties to foster friendship and unity. Despite the overwhelming support received by the party which the Commission on Elections (Comelec) had recognized only a month ago, Pacquiao said he must not remain complacent on his political bid. At the same time, Pacquiao added that he would remain focused on his sports career until he hangs his boxing gloves. After winning his highly-touted match against British slugger Ricky Hatton last May, Pacquiao indicated that he is looking at his next fight by October or November 2009 as probably the last in an illustrious career that has netted him several world titles. People’s Champ Movement 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 bout with Hatton, announcer Michael Buffer said Pacquiao was from Sarangani province. 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." In 2007, Pacquiao ran for a congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato as an adopted member of administration party Kabalikat ng Mamayang Pilipino (Kampi). He, however, lost to re-electionist Darlene Antonino-Custodio who knocked him out with a wide margin of 37,000 votes. Pacquiao’s fans and even his long-time supporter, Environment Secretary Jose “Lito" Atienza, did not appreciate his entry into politics, saying that he would do better in the boxing ring than in the political arena. Challenging the Chiongbian family Despite the looming opposition to his imminent candidacy, Pacquiao had thrown the first punch in his upcoming political battle against a well-known clan in Sarangani, signaling the start of election season in the southern province. Should he formalize his plan to run in the lone congressional district of Sarangani, he is expected to face a member of the influential Chiongbian family. Over the weekend, Pacquiao said the main reason he is running in Sarangani is that he failed to see any significant change during the Chiongbians' 14-year reign in the House of Representatives accusing the long-time political clan of doing nothing to uplift the lives of the poor. "Kung satisfied ako siguro sa ginagawa nila ‘di na ako tatakbo dahil masaya ako. Susuportahan ko na lang sila [If I were satisfied with what the Chiongbians are doing, I would not run because I would be fulfilled and would even support them]," Pacquiao said. "Nakita ko naman na kulang talaga. In how many years, wala silang naitulong sa mga tao [I had seen that they had been amiss in helping the people]," he added. The statement did not sit well with incumbent Rep. Erwin Chiongbian, who vowed that his family would not give up the congressional post easily. The Chiongbians are known as a political dynasty in Sarangani. The late James L. Chiongbian is considered as the father of the province, having helped pass House Bill 00046 that created Sarangani as a separate province from South Cotabato. - with a report from Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV