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Monday, May 21, 2007
'Arroyo's blessing curse for Pacquiao'
KORONADAL CITY -- It does not pay to be in the good graces of the powers-that-be.
Fr. Angel Buenavides, spokesman of the Diocese of Marbel, pointed this out in reference to the astounding loss absorbed by Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in the race for the first congressional district of South Cotabato.
Pinoy Votes: Sun.Star Election 2007 Coverage
Based on the final but unofficial count of the provincial National Movement for Free Elections- National Secretariat for Social Action (Namfrel/NSSA) here released on Friday, reelectionist Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio clobbered the famous boxer by 63,780 votes.
Custodio, running under the Nationalist People’s Coalition and local party Achievers with Integrity Movement, earned 138,276 votes, while Pacquiao mustered only 74,496 points.
The boxer ran under President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino in the known opposition bailiwick province.
"The constituents in the area have strong anti-Arroyo sentiments. There's no doubt that Manny is very popular but his alliance with the administration could have been a strong factor in his poor showing in the political arena," Buenavides said.
"He's a perceived 'yes-man' of Malacanang," the religious leader stressed, reiterating the opposition-tilted mind-set of voters in South Cotabato.
Buenavides also noted that this election reflects a "more mature" local electorate, citing the poor showing of the boxer and other celebrity candidates like actors Cesar Montano and Richard Gomez.
The priest attributed this to the continued voters' education campaign conducted by the church and other sectors to the public.
"Popularity alone now could not ensure victory at the polls," Buenavides said, emphasizing that the electorate is now more concerned on track record, capabilities and principles of the candidates.
Pacquiao said they are planning to file a petition after his camp discovered alleged spurious election returns.
Buenavides also pointed out that the electorate now is not "anymore money-oriented" as they vote according to their conscience.
He stressed that Pacquiao, aside from being hugely popular, has a multi-million campaign chest and yet he fared poorly in the political ring.
And with alleged help of the local media, the boxer still failed to beat the charm and political savvy of Custodio.
Text messages circulating in the province claimed that Pacquiao maintained a media bureau consisting of 18 prominent local journalists in the print and radio industry.
Sources said the journalists purportedly receive P2,500 each weekly since the start of the campaign period in March.
One of the journalists named in the text message said it was meant "to malign his reputation." The others in the list sought for comment preferred not to react.
The text message reads: "Presenting the 18 members of Pacman's media bureau [names of the journalists]. Many thanks to them, Pacquiao was defeated."
Various sports analysts and even close supporters of the boxer here earlier discouraged Pacquiao from running, saying he is still on the prime of his boxing career. (BSS/Sun.Star General Santos)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Pampanga. (May 21, 2007 issue)
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