Nothing preventing Pacquiao from moving to LP, spokesman says

The Liberal Party has no problem with boxing champ and Sarangani congressman-elect Manny Pacquiao's reported plan to join them, the party spokesman said Monday. In a phone interview with GMANews.TV, Quezon Rep. Lorenzo "Erin" Tañada III said he was surprised by Pacquiao's reported announcement in Sarangani of his transfer to the LP, but said there's nothing barring Pacquiao from joining the party. "Para sa amin the elections are over and I know Manny wants to help his constituents. He has gone to president-elect Noynoy, paid a courtesy call to him and said he would support his administration. Maybe he feels that one way in providing the needed change in the district is to align with the party in power," Tañada said. Pacquiao, who ran under the Nacionalista Party, visited Aquino in his Times Street home just a little over a week after the May 10 elections. In the visit, Pacquiao promised to support Aquino's agenda. Tañada said Pacquiao also met with Quezon City congressman-elect Feliciano "Sonny Belmonte" Jr., the party's candidate for House Speaker, last week. "There was already talks between congressman-elect Belmonte and Manny, and they met with each other prior to the oath-taking of the liberal Party members last Friday," Tañada said. Still, Tañada said Pacquiao's reported announcement came as a surprise because Pacquiao did not categorically tell him of the plan to move to the LP when they met at the Development Academy of the Philippines last Tuesday. Tañada gave a lecture at the DAP, where Pacquiao took a 10-day crash course on development legislation and governance. "I was kidding him about it (moving to the LP)," said Tañada, adding that Pacquiao may have made up his mind about moving to the LP after consulting with his constituents. During the campaign, the boxing champ was one of the staunchest supporters of NP standard bearer Senator Manuel Villar Jr., who was Aquino's erstwhile closest rival. Pacquiao first tried to enter public office in 2007 when he ran for congressman of South Cotabato but lost to Darlene Antonino-Custodio. Sarangani, which he is set to represent in the incoming 15th Congress, is the home province of his wife Jinkee. - RJAB Jr/KBK, GMANews.TV