GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/24 March) ? World boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao will temporarily set aside his recent ring exploits once he arrives here on Friday as he takes on another shot for a congressional post through the lone district of Sarangani province in the upcoming May 10 synchronized national and local elections.
Dominico Congson, chair of Pacquiao?s political party People?s Champ Movement (PCM), confirmed Wednesday that Pacquiao will immediately join the campaign trail once he arrives via the city airport here on Friday, which is also the start of the official campaign period for local candidates.
?We were advised that he (Pacquiao) will forego with the usual grand arrival activities here to give more focus to his campaign,? he told a local television station.
The city government usually organizes a grand hero?s welcome for Pacquiao?s homecoming following his successful fights abroad.
After demolishing Puerto Rican champion Miguel Cotto in an exciting fight last November, city folks gave Pacquia a rousing welcome through a motorcade around the city proper and a public press conference at the oval plaza gymnasium here.
Pacquiao, currently the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion, successfully defended his crown last March 13 in a clinical 12-round domination of former welterweight champion Joshua Clottey of Ghana.
Congson said Pacquiao, who is facing businessman Roy Chiongbian in his bid for Sarangani?s lone congressional seat, will proceed to the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum in Sarangani to join the launching of PCM?s campaign bandwagon.
He said the opening salvo of Pacquiao?s planned aggressive campaigning will be personally graced by Nacionalista Party (NP) presidential bet Manuel Villar and other national candidates.
Pacquiao?s PCM forged an alliance with Villar?s NP last December in a bid to propel the boxing champion?s second attempt for a seat at the House of Representatives in the coming May elections.
In the 2007 elections, Pacquiao lost his bid for the first congressional district seat of South Cotabato to incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
He has since changed his official residence from this city to Kiamba town in Sarangani province, where his wife Jinkee hails, and registered PCM as a local political party as part of his political plans.
Ernesto Quisay, chief of staff of City Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr., said they already anticipated such decision but cited that they have yet to get official word on the matter from the Pacquiao camp.
He said the local government will proceed with their usual preparations for Pacquiao?s scheduled homecoming on Friday for possible last-minute changes on the latter?s plans. (Allen V. Estabillo / MindaNews)
