From pedigree to tale of the tape, pundits are agog for news on how next year’s polls take shape in Manila.
If a seer were allowed a fearless forecast, the vaunted Pete Bull-Ali Atienza would appear to give way to an Ali-Pacman combination.
A Standard Today source almost as old as city hall itself has put to sleep the possibility of grooming National Police Gen. Pedro Bulaong for Manila’s top post.
“Now in the works is Ali for mayor and Manny Pacquiao for vice mayor come the May 2007 local polls. The Pete Bull-Ali collaboration has been totally dropped,” the informant at the Office of the Mayor said on request of anonymity.
The source claimed that Mayor Lito Atienza has been sounding out Pacman, the moniker of the ring idol who floored the Mexican Oscar Larios recently at the Big Dome in Araneta Center, Cubao.
“If there is one responsible person I would love to sponsor… it is Pacman. With my son Ali [they] can achieve much more to spur the development and progress of Manila,” added the source, quoting his boss.
An adopted son of the city, the world-class pugilist has a unit at the city hall-built Residencias de Manila in Pandacan since 2004, indicating his bona fide domicile for purposes of running for public office.
If Pacquiao chooses to go the distance, he will mix it up with the likes of veteran politician-cum-showbiz folk led by Councilors Isko Moreno, Cita Astals and Robert Ortega alongside seasoned figures Rep. Ernesto Nieva and Councilor Roger Gernale and yet another actor, Cesar Montano.
