Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao on Friday joined the Liberal Party faction of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, GMA Network’s 24 Oras reported Friday night.
Pacquiao was supposed to take his oath as member of the Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s party, at The Fort in Taguig City, but he did not show up.
The Filipino boxing hero went to the Manila City Hall instead and took his oath as member of the LP Atienza wing. Kampi coalesced with the Lakas-CMD to form the ruling administration coalition.
“Baka isipin ng mga tao na baka si Madam (Arroyo) ang nagtulak sa akin na tumakbo kung susumpa ako sa Kampi … Walang nangumbinsi sa akin na tumakbo (People might think that Madam Arroyo convinced me to run if I got inducted into Kampi … Nobody coerced me to run),” Pacquiao said.
He had earlier confirmed seeking the mayoralty post in General Santos City, but said during the live interview with GMA News that he was still thinking about running for mayor or congressman.
The “people’s champ,” Manila City’s favorite adopted son, did not say which place he would seek an electoral post.
“Ako siguradong tatakbo pero pinag-iisipan ko pa kung ano tatakbuhin ko kasi mahaba pa naman ang panahon (I’m definitely running but I’m still thinking about what position to seek because I still have a lot of time),” Pacquiao said.
He said that for sure, he would not seek a seat at the Senate.
Although he is set to join the political arena, Pacquiao said he would stay with the sport which gave him the fame and wealth that he enjoys now.
“Hindi ko makkalimutan ang pagbo-boxing (I will never forget boxing),” Pacquiao said.
Asked how he would be able to balance the demands of boxing and the election campaign, Pacquiao said that: “April 14 pa po ang fight ko, at pagkatapos po ng fight ko may isang buwan pa ako para mangampanya (My fight is on April 14. After my bout, I have about a month to campaign).”
Pacquiao, the most popular athlete in the country today, was scheduled Friday to take his oath as Kampi district chairman in General Santos City before party president Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Villafuerte at The Fort.
However, Villafuerte told GMANews.TV in a telephone interview: “It did not push through. Pacquiao is not yet sure about his political plans.”
The congressman said the boxing champion was having second thoughts about running as mayor of General Santos City .
Instead, Villafuerte said Pacquiao was seriously considering campaigning full-time for the senatorial candidates of President Arroyo.
Pacquaio had earlier said he was “more than 90 percent” sure he would join local politics as the administration’s mayoralty bet.
“Hindi niya pa alam kung itutuloy niya ang pagtakbo as mayor o kung magkakampanya na lang siya para sa mga kandidato ng administrasyon (He does not it he wants to pursue his mayoralty bid or to campaign full-time for the administration),” Villafuerte said. – with reports from Joan Dairo and Fidel Jimenez, GMANews.TV
