Sarangani rivals Pacquiao and Chiongbian enter the ring

KIAMBA, Sarangani—The two candidates vying for this province’s lone congressional district on Friday celebrated their most important days with their supporters, using the opportunity to officially launch their respective campaigns. World-class Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao returned to his home province after his successful bout against Joshua Clottey two weeks ago, while his rival, top business honcho Roy Chiongbian, celebrated his 61st birthday with his partymates and supporters. As usual, Pacquiao received a warm welcome from his provincemates in General Santos city. Unlike in the past, however, there was no grandiose victory parade for him. He instead rode on a motorcade to Sarangani with Nacionalista Party standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr. and his vice-presidential running mate Sen. Loren Legarda. A true Sarangani boy In a press conference before the motorcade, the three expressed support for each other’s candidacy, while Pacquiao defended himself from allegations that he does not have the residency requirement to run for the post. The boxing champ said his rival had the same residency status. Both of the cases filed by the opposing parties have been dismissed. “Tunay na taga-Sarangani ako, alam ko ang nararamdaman ng mga taga-Sarangani. Hindi ako nagwo-worry (sa mga allegations), kumpleto ako ng papeles (I'm a true Sarangani native, I know the feelings of Sarangani residents. I don't worry about the allegations, since my papers are complete)," he told reporters. If he wins in the elections, Pacquiao said, he would push for better livelihood, access to medical services, and quality education for the residents of Sarangani. Pacquiao also refused to compare his fight against Chiongbian with his boxing conquests. “Hindi ito dapat igaya sa boxing dahil tao ang nagdedesisyon dito. (We should not equate this campaign to a boxing bout because in this case it's the people who decide.) We offer our services to them. Hindi kailangan ang siraan, dapat ipahayag ang magandang intensyon. Iba ang pulitika at iba ang boxing (We don't need mudslinging, just present your good intentions. Politics is different from boxing)," he said. Pacquiao’s party held a motorcade and mini-rallies in Maasim and Maitum towns, and a grand rally at Kiamba town. Chiongbian fights back Chiongbian, on the other hand, is showing himself to be not an easy pushover. On the first day of the campaign, he held a press conference at Isla Parilla, followed by a kickoff rally at the family-owned Kling Rubber Plantation Company in Kiamba. Amid the acknowledged boxing popularity of his rival, Chiongbian expressed confidence that his constituents will vote for someone who has the ability to manage the province. Chiongbian is the youngest brother of incumbent Sarangani Rep. Erwin Chiongbian. It was the clan partriach, former Rep. James Chiongbian, who authored the law which created the lone-district province of Sarangani. Unlike Pacquiao who sought a congressional seat in South Cotabato in 2007 but lost to Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, it would be Chiongbian’s first take in politics.—JV, GMANews.TV