GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Reeling from his first foray into local politics, Manny Pacquiao yesterday finally accepted defeat in the May 14 elections, vowing to concentrate on his boxing career and recover lost time with his wife and children.
The boxing champion said it was time to give up the fight and recognize Darlene Antonino Custodio as the winner in the battle for the congressional seat in the first district of General Santos City.
Custodio was proclaimed last night by the Provincial Board of Canvassers of South Cotabato as representative for a third and final term, despite a protest filed by lawyers of Pacquiao.
“Tinatanggap ko na ang resulta ng bilangan (I now accept the results of the counting),” said the 28-year-old Pacquiao at his spacious home in General Santos. He added it was enough of an honor for him to have run for Congress.
Custodio, who comes from a political clan, proved to be the bigger puncher in her showdown with Pacquiao, considered as the best pound-for-pound boxer in the world today.
“I hope she fulfills her promises to the people. If that happens, then I’m happy,” Pacquiao said.
The political loss may well be boxing’s gain.
Pacquiao trailed Custodio from the start, but refused to throw in the towel as allegations of cheating were hurled against the Custodio camp.
But Pacquiao has finally accepted defeat.
Pacquiao said he will now concentrate on his boxing career. He is scheduled to return to the ring either September or October against a fighter he has yet to choose.
Pacquiao said he will spend more time with his family and make up for his absence when he trained for his fight with Mexico’s Jorge Solis in San Antonio, Texas last April 14.
When he returned from the US, he got so busy with his campaign and hardly had enough quality time with his wife Jinkee and their three kids – Emmanuel, Michael and six-month-old Princess.
Pacquiao is planning to bring his family along when he flies to the US on May 28 for some boxing commitments. He will stay in Los Angeles and will fly to New York on the first week of June.
Pacquiao will be at ringside of the Madison Square Garden when his brother Bobby climbs the ring against Humberto Soto on June 9. The night before, Pacquiao will be honored by the Boxing Writers of America as its Fighter of the Year for 2006.
Winner
Custodio’s proclamation pushed through although there was some delay after the results of the General Santos City votes came late, said lawyer Lilian Radam, the provincial supervisor of the Commission on Elections in South Cotabato.
Radam said the proclamation of Custodio, which took place at the South Cotabato provincial capitol at 7 p.m. was attended by the province’s re-elected officials led by Gov. Daisy Fuentes and Vice Gov. Eliordo Ogena, both political allies of the congresswoman in the Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC).
She said Custodio was proclaimed after she earned a 139,061 votes from the entire first congressional district —which comprises this city and the towns of Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan —against Pacquiao with 75,908.
Radam also admitted that before Custodio’s proclamation the lawyers of Pacquiao filed a protest before the provincial board of canvassers to exclude the certificates of canvass (COCs) of General Santos in their tabulation.
But, Radam pointed out, “we (the provincial board of canvassers) immediately made a ruling that the canvassing must continue and we subsequently proclaimed the winner.”
She also clarified that the denial of their protest does not mean it will not be given due course.
The STAR tried to reach the Pacman’s lawyers but calls were not returned. But with Pacquiao’s conceding defeat, it may be all academic.
Also yesterday afternoon, Custodio’s political allies in their local political party, Achievers with Integrity Movement (AIM) were proclaimed.
Re-elected City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. and his running mate vice-mayor Flor Congson were also proclaimed at the city’s Sangguniang Panlungsod session hall.
