Manny Pacquiao is running for Congress in his native Philippines for two reasons – to make a better life for the people of the first district of South Cotabato, and to show that there is such thing as a Filipino politician who makes promises and keeps them.
“There are a lot of people who are poor and they need my help, and because there are some politicians in my place that, they are always promising, promising and they don’t do anything,” Pacquiao said. “So, there are a lot of people – poor people – that need help.”
The first district of South Cotabato includes General Santos City, Pacquiao’s hometown.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said that Pacquiao running for office against Darlene Custodio has become an incredible story in the Philippines. He said that there are television reporters covering his fight tonight in San Antonio against Jorge Solis, and that they have been just as interested in Pacquiao’s political career.
“We have Filipino television crews here and every hour they are doing a program and sending it back to the Philippines,” Arum said. “They have been interviewing me and I didn’t realize at first that everything I say has been going back to the Philippines.
“Now they view me as a political celebrity. And they ask me as much about Manny’s views as they do his boxing.” There were reports out of the Philippines that Custodio was trying to get tonight’s telecast back to the Philippines blocked because she was concerned Pacquiao would gain an advantage over her if all of the respective voters were cheering him on during his fight.
Custodio has denied that, and the telecast will be shown.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has asked Arum to go with him to the Philippines prior to the May14 election for moral support.
“Manny told me he would consider it a great favor if I would go over to the Philippines the final week of the campaign,”
Arum said. “And it sort of stunned me. But, listen, if it will help him, I’m happy to do it.”
Arum, a graduate of Harvard Law School, served as a top lawyer at the Justice Department under Attorney General Robert Kennedy during John F. Kennedy’s presidency.
