Senatorial hopeful Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao will have to make do of a short 30 day period to campaign for his election to the Senate if he intends to take on a ring assignment before the May national polls.
Pacquiao?s handlers aired this possibility as the eight division world boxing wonder has aired plans to retire from his successful boxing career after his fight on April 9.
?Cong Pacquiao will have to train for 60 days prior to the fight. This will affect his campaign,? said a close Pacquiao adviser who requested anonymity.
With 60 days of his pre-election time allocated for training, Pacquiao will be left with only 30 days to seek the support of the over 50 million voting Filipinos.
The Commission on Elections has set the campaign period for national positions to just 90 days prior to the election. It abandoned a previous plan to allow candidates an extended 120-day campaign time.
Pacquiao, who is running under the United Nationalist Alliance banner, has aired plans to retire from a successful boxing career by fighting on April 9, a month prior to election day.
He has vowed to concentrate on his political career after the last ring assignment.
After filing his certificate of candidacy last week, the Saranggani lawmaker confirmed to the media that he will take on a boxing match before the elections.
However, boxing promoter Bob Arum admitted that there remains no confirmed takers to Pacquiao?s challenge after negotiations with England?s Amir Khan fell through.
Also surfacing as possible opponents were unbeaten junior welterweight champion Terence Crawford, Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley.
