MANILA, Philippines ? Can Manny Pacquiao still win a congressional seat representing the Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) even if he loses in the district race in Sarangani Province?
According to PBA party-list nominee Miles Roces, Pacquiao will certainly be a congressman as long as the PBA wins in the party-list race.
?He can still sit as party-list representative. I-eelect lang naman ng board namin si Manny at siya na ang magiging rep namin sa Kongreso (All our board has to do is elect Manny and he becomes our representative in Congress),? said Roces, a former Manila representative.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, however, said this is not allowed by law.
“Kung wala ka sa listahan ng nominees, hindi ka p’wede. Kung wala ka doon, paano ka makakapasok as nominee? Kung sakaling manalo [ang party-list] at hahabol, ay late na (If you’re not included in the list of nominees it’s not allowed. If the party-list wins and you’ll come in as a late addition, it’s too late),” he said.
Pacquiao, a 7-division champion, is facing Roy Chiongbian, a ?heavyweight? in Sarangani politics. (Read: Pacquiao faces tough fight vs Chiongbians)
This is the second time he will be attempting a congressional seat. In 2007, he lost to the Darlene Antonino Custodio in South Cotabato province.
Like the Chiongbians, the Antoninos are also a well-entrenched political clan in Mindanao.
Some of the boxing superstar’s fans tried to dissuade him from running, saying he can help the poor in many other ways.
“Ayoko na sanang sabihin na napakarami ko nang natulungang tao. Hindi ko lang pinapa-media. Pero gusto ko namang ngayon gamitin ang Kongreso para makatulong sa mahihirap,? said Pacquiao.
(I didn?t really need to publicize that I have helped a lot of people. I don?t tell that through the media. But now, I want to use Congress to help the poor).
Pacquiao was in Camarines Sur on Tuesday campaigning for presidential bet Manny Villar of the Nacionalista Party.
Pacquiao also said his political support for Villar has not affected in any way his relationship with President Arroyo.
