Pacquiao on poll knockout: ‘My men deserted me’

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has blamed his campaigners for his defeat in South Cotabato’s first district congressional race against Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio. In an article by Manny Piñol posted Sunday on philboxing.com, the author bared Pacquiao had admitted the boxing superstar trusted too many people around him and did not know some of them would turn into Benedict Arnolds. "They (campaigners) deserted me at the last minute," Piñol quoted Pacquiao as saying. Piñol is a former sports journalist, a boxing critic, who has just won the vice-gubernatorial post of North Cotabato. In the article, Piñol said: “Just as the elections neared, these DPOs (deep penetration operators) stabbed Manny in the back and ran off with his campaign funds leaving the campaign apparatus crumbling." Piñol said that Pacquiao's defeat in politics is welcome news to many boxing fans. He said they "are actually relieved that at least for now, the boxing icon can really concentrate on where he is best -- boxing." "With a few years remaining before he turns 30, Manny must now pick quality fights, save his money and prepare for retirement. The squandering of money on gambling must stop," the author said. On May 20, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed reelectionist Custodio of the first district of South Cotabato as winner over Pacquiao. Official Comelec tally showed Custodio getting 139,061 votes as against Pacquiao's 75,900. Pacquiao, who spoke on radio before the proclamation, welcomed the results of the elections. He urged the winning candidates to keep their campaign promises and work hard to help alleviate the poor conditions of local residents. - GMANews.TV