Pacquiao in Bacolod for mayor's inauguration

Filipino boxing icon and new Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao is now in Bacolod City in Negros Occidental to administer the oaths of office to local officials there. Pacquiao arrived in Bacolod City Friday afternoon upon the invitation of city mayor Evelio Leonardia, according to a report Saturday on news site Visayan Daily Star. Pacquiao was to administer the oaths of office on Leonardia – a longtime supporter – and other city officials at the city government center at 5 p.m. Saturday. The boxing champ arrived with wife Jinkee. He said Leonardia called him up after he won in the May 10 elections and invited him to Bacolod for the oath-taking rites as well as the inauguration of the new government center there. Pacquiao had chosen Leonardia to be the holder of his championship belts in most of his triumphs in the ring. On the other hand, Leonardia said he chose Pacquiao to administer the oaths of office because he won by an overwhelming majority and toppled a dynasty in Sarangani. “His party-list group the People’s Champ Movement, I believe, is virtually controlling the province now, except for the governor and vice governor who are not his party mates," he said. Leonardia said he believes that Pacquiao is not only a boxing great but has all the makings now of a political great. He also noted Pacquiao is an adopted son of Bacolod and is the most popular Filipino in the international scene today. He is listed in the World’s 100 Most Influential People by Forbes Magazine. — LBG, GMANews.TV