Filipino boxing champ Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, 28 who is running for a congressional post in the first district of South Cotabato in Mindanao, has rejected criticism against him that he would only be a puppet should he win the 14 May mid-term elections. “It’s not true that I would be a puppet,” said Pacquiao in an interview with Adnkronos International (AKI). “I will fight for my rights and nobody can dictate to me, as long as I am doing the right thing,” said the Filipino boxing idol.
The former world champion of the IBF Super Bantamweight and WBC Flyweight divisions, Pacquiao is the reigning WBC International Super featherweight Champion and is running under President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s party, Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi), against incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
In fact, when AKI interviewed him over the phone, he said that he was just waiting for his turn to deliver his campaign message to the people.
“I want to push several laws and my priority is for the juvenile delinquents,” he said speaking in Tagalog, the Filipino language.
He noted that in General Santos City, where he hails from, there are lots of youngsters, who apparently are involved in illegal activities.
Pacquiao added that he will push for some development projects in his area, including the establishment of more schools and hospitals.
“As I could see it, our district is very big but we lack development projects,” he stressed.
While he was not able to formally finish high school, Pacquiao said he did not see his educational background as a hindrance in his desire to “serve” the people.
Pacquiao passed the Philippines Department of Education’s Accreditation and Equivalency test for high school last February, thus, making him a ‘bonafide’ high school graduate and eligible for college education.
The former boxing champion is famous not only in the Philippines but also all over the world for his boxing prowess. He has improved his record to 44-3-2 with 34 knockouts when he beat Mexican boxer Jorge Solis in Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas early this month.
Event hough he has already entered politics, Pacquiao said he will not yet retire from boxing.
“I can handle the two, it’s just a matter of discipline,” he said, adding that he may retire from the arena when he reaches the age of 31 or 32.
He said that his family – his wife Jinky and three children – has supported his decision to enter politics.
A 24-year old boxing trainer from his hometown has expressed support on Pacquiao’s decision to run for a congressional post. “He (Pacquiao) has his own reasons for doing that and he knows what kind of field he is going to enter. I think he will try to do his best to succeed in this field,” he told AKI.
But not all of Pacquaio’s supporters in his boxing career are supportive of his political career.
“He is my idol in boxing but not in politics,” a 29-year old worker in a plantation in General Santos City told AKI.
Born to a poor family, Pacquiao said giving his parents, his three other siblings and his own family a better life, is so far one of his greatest achievements.
He added that he wants to share his blessings by serving the constituents in his district.
