Pacquiao endorses Lapid; Binay unfazed

People’s champ Manny Pacquiao endorsed Friday Lito Lapid who will challenge incumbent Mayor Jejomar Binay in Makati. Aside from Lapid, Pacquiao also raised the hands of other administration candidates in Makati. Pacquiao led the motorcade held in the afternoon from Guadalupe to the J.P. Rizal. Joining the motorcade were administration Makati district II congressional candidate Erwin Genuino, movie actor Monsour del Rosario and singer Nonoy Zuniga, who are both running for councilors under the administration party. King Yabut was also seen with Lapid’s group. “I thanked you all for your continuous support for me," Pacquiao said while throwing T-shirts bearing the face of Genuino while their motorcade passed through the old building of the Makati City hall. Employees of the Makati City Hall went out to see Pacquiao and Lapid’s entourage. For his part, Lito Anzures, Binay’s political adviser assailed the sudden power outage seconds before Pacquiao and Lapid’s entourage passed through J.P Rizal Avenue near the old Makati City hall. Anzures said the timing of the power outage was unusual. “It was not a coincidence that there was sudden electric outage while Pacquiao and Lapid’s entourage is passing through J.P. Rizal Avenue in front of the old City hall building," Anzures said. He admitted that he is among the group of Filipinos who admired Pacquiao for his successful bout against the Mexican boxers, the latest of which was his knock out in the eight round of Mexican boxer Jorge Solis that brought fame and honor to the country. “We belong to that group of Filipinos who idolized Pacquiao as boxer. Right now, he is the sports icon. However, you have to differentiate between sports and politics. Even his closest friends are advising him not to run. A lot of people told him not to run," Anzures said. Anzures said it is a pity that Pacquiao, who is running for congressman in General Santos City against Darlene Antonino, has allowed himself to be used as a political pawn of Lapid and his other co-administration candidates in Makati. “It should not have any impact or bearing. It is not a fight of how many endorsers you have. In the final analysis, people will judge the candidates according to their track records," Anzures said. Anzures said Lapid is also popular in his own right. “Lapid, in his own right, has an impact of popularity. That is why he won as governor in Pampanga and later became a senator. So, I don’t see how an endorsement from a more popular athlete like Pacquiao would boost his chances," he said. “Pacquiao does not know anything about Makati. He did not know anything about the system in Makati or the record of the performance team of Mayor Binay," Anzures added. Anzures said he is among those who idolized Pacquiao for what he did to the Philippines. “But his endorsement of Lapid and the other administration candidates was off tangent. Lapid’s cheap publicity stunts, with Pacquiao’s help, will not work," Anzures said. - GMANews.TV