Friday, March 30, 2007 It’s official: Manny’s running
MANNY Pacquiao has made up his mind: he will run for office and train at the same time.
His campaign for a congressional seat in Mindanao, however, will have to be waged by proxies while he is training in the United States for his fight in April against an unheralded but unbeaten Mexican.
Pacquiao’s political supporters accompanied his lawyer in filing his certificate of candidacy (COC) as first district representative of South Cotabato at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in Koronadal City yesterday morning.
Lawyer Franklin Gacal said he filed the Pacquiao’s COC because the boxer is in the US training for his April 14 fight against Mexican boxer Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
A press statement submitted by a group of political reporters identified Gacal as the legal adviser and financial consultant of Pacquiao.
The statement did not indicate whether Pacquiao gave an explanation why he decided to run amid his fight preparations.
Pacquiao initially shelved his political plans after he was booed during the “Moment of Truth” boxing event in Cebu City last Feb. 24.
Gacal’s younger brother Ruel, the campaign’s finance officer, also went to the Comelec to file Pacquiao’s COC.
South Cotabato Election Supervisor Lilian Suan-Radam said Pacquiao’s COC was filed around 11 a.m. in her office.
The first district of South Cotabato, which has 370,000 registered voters, is composed of General Santos City and the towns of Tampakan, Tupi and Polomolok, considered a political bailiwick of the Antonino family.
The administration’s bet, Pacquiao will face oppositionist Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who is seeking her third and final term.
In the boxing ring, Pacquiao, who parades a win-loss-draw record of 43-3-2, with 34 knockouts, will put at stake his WBC International super-featherweight belt for 12 rounds against Solis, who has 32 wins and two draws, with 23 KOs. (With PR)
