Pacquiao in a quandary: To run or not to run on May 14

Saying he now wants to concentrate on his sport, Filipino boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao on Monday said he will set aside for the meantime his plans to seek the congressional post in the first district of South Cotabato. Pacquio, in an interview with GMA's 24 Oras, said he will first focus on his fight in Texas. He did not, however, make a categorical statement on whether he has already decided not to run in the May 14 elections. Pacquiao is set to leave for the United States on March 5 to prepare for his April 14 bout against undefeated Mexican fighter Jorge Solis. It was the second time that Pacquiao had changed his mind about his political plans. In late January he said he wanted to run for Vice Mayor of Manila but that he had not yet made up his mind. Next, he said he wanted instead to run for Congress in the first district of his home province of South Cotabato. Candidates' endorser Pacquiao, a commercial talent endorser of various consumer products, incuding beer, car batteries and food supplements, has also actively endorsed several candidates allied with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. To name a few, Pacquiao has supported the candidacies of administration senatorial bet Luis "Chavit" Singson, Makati mayoral bet Sen. Lito Lapid, and Manila mayoral bet Ali Atienza, son of outgoing Mayor Lito Atienza. "Sa ngayon, ang masasabi ko lang po ay hindi ko sinasarado yung pintuan sa pulitika. I-set aside ko muna dahil may coming fight ako, mas mauna yung laban ko. (What I can say for now is that I am not closing my doors to politics. I will just set it aside for the meantime because of my incoming fight, which will happen before the elections)," said Pacquiao. Asked on whether he would file his certificate of candidacy with the Commission on Elections, Pacquiao said: "Hindi ko po alam, kasi ang filing March 29, eh April 14 yung laban, nasa Amerika ako. Hindi ko po alam, hindi ko po alam. (I don't know, because the filing of candidacy for local elections is on March 29, but the fight will be on April 14 and I will be in the US.)". Asked if he has taken back his earlier statement that he would run for Congress, Pacquio said: "Hindi ko po binabawi. Ang sinasabi ko, i-set aside ko lang at hindi ko muna pagtutuunan ng pansin yan, kakalimutan ko muna sa isip ko yan. (No, I'm not taking it back. What I am saying is that I will just set it aside for now, I will forget about it for now)." Unsavory reception Radio station dzBB earlier reported that Manila Mayor Atienza learned of the decision from the "people's champ" himself last Saturday in Cebu. Pacquiao took his oath as a member of the Liberal Party before Atienza, leader of the group's faction loyal to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Interestingly, the radio report quoted Atienza as saying that Pacquiao finally heeded his call to quit the congressional race. A philboxing.com report quoted Pacquiao's close friend Rex "Wakee" Salud, confirming that the boxer has thrown the towel in his quest for a congressional seat in Gen. Santos City. The report quoted Salud in an interview by Philippine government TV station NBN Channel 4. According to Salud it was the unsavory reception by boxing fans to Pacquiao during Saturday's "Battle of Cebu: Moment of Truth" that made Pacman change his mind on mixing boxing with politics. Pacquiao was with Atienza, government lawyer Romy Makalintal and Salud when he was booed Saturday by fans that jampacked the Cebu City Sports Complex where Filipino boxers Z Gorres and Boom Boom Bautista fought their separate bouts. In the same philboxing.com report, Atty. Romy Macalintal whom Pacquiao designated as his spokesman, confirmed the news. Makalintal was quoted by philboxing as saying that Pacquiao ended his quest for an elective position because he wants to ensure his fans that he is listening to them. "Pacquiao treats his fans as very important to him and would listen to their sentiments." Well-taken advice Macalintal said it was he and Atienza who urged Pacquio not to push through with his political plans. He said they felt that it is not the right time for Pacquiao to run, especially now that he is in the peak of his boxing career. After realizing the worth of their advice, Macalintal said Pacman even apologized to his supporters and to those "who believe in his capability as a public servant". Last Friday, GMA News' Saksi said James Jimenez, spokesman for the Commission on Elections (Comelec), said the poll body would study the implications of the Solis-Pacquiao bout on the Filipino puncher's allowable airtime under the Election Code. "There is no precedent on this case," Jimenez said. "There was no sportsman of his caliber in the past who ran for an elective position and the contest was set to occur during the election period," he said. Jimenez said it is up to the Comelec en banc to decide what to do in the television airing of the Pacquiao-Solis fight if the Filipino ring icon files a certificate of candidacy on or before the March 29 deadline for local positions. Last week, Pacquiao got more unsolicited advice from sports and political analysts to think twice about entering the political arena. Veteran sportscaster Ed Picson said Pacquiao should focus on his boxing career instead of seeking the congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato. "Right now Manny's career is on the rise ... Right now he is at the peak of his strength. It will be unfortunate if it goes to waste," Picson said in Filipino during an interview with GMA News. He noted that even the brightest boxing stars fade, in an profession which can end before the final bell. "But in politics, even until the very end [when you're old], you can still be fit there," Picson said. Pacquiao is fresh from his three-round conquest of Mexican boxing legend Erik "El Terible" Morales last November 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The "people's champ" earlier said he plans to prepare for his next bout against Solis on April 21. Solis is an undefeated puncher, whom Pacquiao's coach Freddie Roach previously said should not be taken lightly. The Ring Magazine, regarded as "the Bible of Boxing," currently lists Pacquiao as the best junior lightweight boxer with a 42-3-2 card. Of his wins, 34 came by way of knockout. Despite the impressive record, Picson said Pacquiao should keep his eye on dispensing the toughest opponents, namely Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez. Meanwhile, professor Randolf "Randy" David of the University of the Philippines (UP) warned Pacquiao against entering the May polls because the latter lacked expertise in governance. David told dzBB radio that Pacquiao was being used by desperate politicians for their own selfish interests. David, a staunch critic of the administration, called Pacquiao a victim of "proxy politics," dzBB radio said, as the boxer would be employed as crowd draw in political sorties. Pacquiao will run against Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who is seeking her third term in the House of Representatives. - GMANews.TV