MANILA, Philippines – The People’s Champ Movement (PCM), the political party of boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, will likely be recognized by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“Kumpleto naman ‘yong mga dokumento, mga ebidensiya kaya wala naman kaming nakikitang mali [The documents and evidence are complete, thus we do not see any problem],” Comelec commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer told GMANews.TV in a phone interview on Tuesday.
Asked if PCM would likely be accredited by the poll body, Ferrer said: “Yes. Dito naman sa amin, sa political parties lenient kami basta may compliance [Yes. The Comelec is lenient on political parties that comply with requirements].”
The Comelec’s Second Division headed by Ferrer, heard PCM’s petition last week. The petition was filed by Pacquiao’s party counsel, Minveles Beloncio-Gulle, last December 3 or four days before Pacman’s bout with Oscar dela Hoya in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao’s party had satisfied all the requirements, including the publication of the petition in three broadsheets of general circulation, according to Ferrer.
Without giving a definite date, the poll official said the petition would soon be raffled off among the three division members to decide on who would be the ponente or the writer of the decision that would likely favor PCM.
The two other members of the division are commissioners Elias Yusoph and Lucenito Tagle.
Only for local positions
The PCM is a local party that can only field candidates for local positions in General Santos City and Sarangani province. Pacquiao is PCM’s president and Reynaldo Constantino Jr. is the party executive vice president.
In his previous fights, Pacquiao was introduced as hailing from General Santos City. But during his latest match with British slugger Ricky Hatton last May 3 (Manila time), announcer Michael Buffer said Pacquiao was from Sarangani province.
Could the change in Pacquiao?s introduction lend credence to speculations that he is eyeing a congressional seat in Sarangani in the 2010 polls?
In late 2008, Pacquiao registered at the Comelec office in Kiamba, Sarangani, where his wife, Jinkee, is a resident. This was around the time that the boxing superstar was quoted in a television interview that his electoral bid in Sarangani was ?final, no retreat, no surrender.”
But for Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento, Pacquiao would do better in the boxing ring than in the political ring.
?We know that politics is divisive. I think that will not help the Filipinos and Manny, so my advice is to remain a national icon, a national symbol of unity,” he was quoted as saying over QTV?s News on Q on Monday.
Comelec chairman Jose Melo, for his part, said that while there might be a conflict of interest on the part of Pacquiao in having his party recognized, the poll body would welcome anyone who would support the poll body’s campaign for clean elections.
For his part, Ferrer said he saw nothing wrong with Pacquiao?s possible congressional bid. ?There is no prohibition for a president of a local party to become a candidate,” he said. – GMANews.TV
