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Comelec helpless vs politicos exploiting rites for Pacman?


Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. admitted Tuesday he cannot do anything about politicians exploiting the hero's welcome for boxer Manny Pacquiao. But Abalos, in an interview on dzXL radio, said it is up to the voters to get back at these politicians when they cast their votes on Election Day. "Wala tayong magagawa, kung close ang tao, kung siya nagsalita na. Nagkataon ang tao is a hero, nagkataon ang tao binibigyan, sinasaluduhan, acclaimed. May mga taong mahilig sumakay sa ganyan, bigyan na sa kanila (We cannot do anything about it if they are close to someone who is being feted as a hero. There are just people who will ride on other people's fortunes)," Abalos said. He did not name names but was referring to local Manila politicians led by mayor Jose Atienza Jr. Atienza was a patron of Pacquiao during his early boxing days. Atienza organized lavish welcome rites and a motorcade for Pacquiao in Manila. On the other hand, Atienza is grooming his son Arnold to succeed him as mayor. The younger Atienza's supporters had been using "Ali, Ali" as their campaign chant, referring to boxing great Muhammad Ali. But Abalos said that while the Comelec cannot do anything about these politicians, he said it is up to the voters to get back at them. "Talagang ganyan ang buhay di ba. Ewan ko, sapagka't yan nasa tao na rin yan. Alam ng tao ang pagdesisyon kung ginagawa nito talagang pagsaludo o pagsasamantala para kunan ng eksena o samantalahin ang eksena. Alam ng tao, matalino ang tao sa pagboto (That's life. But it's also up to the voters. They know the difference between a hero's welcome and outright exploitation. Voters are intelligent, they know how to vote)," he said. Meanwhile, Abalos reiterated his advice to Pacquiao, whose early boxing career he had helped, not to forget his discipline. Abalos had advised Pacquiao not to enter politics at this time, but Pacquiao ignored the "fatherly" advice and is pushing through with his plan to run for Congress in May. "Kung masayang ayokong masira ito. Pagpasok mo sa pulitika haynaku po ... ang boxing ang pinakamabigat ang disiplina (I don't want to see him waste away his boxing career. When you enter politics, oh God ... He has to remember that like in boxing, discipline is very important)," Abalos said. - GMANews.TV

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