The mettle of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will be tested off the boxing arena Thursday when he plunges into his first political rally in General Santos City with Team Unity senatorial candidates and local candidates in General Santos City.
Pacquiao, who knocked out challenger Jorge Solis in the eighth round in San Antonio, Texas, is challenging Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio of the Genuine Opposition who is seeking her third term. His certificate of candidacy was filed by his lawyer as he was already in the United States training for the Solis bout during the deadline for the submission of COCs.
Pacquiao will be making his first political speech at the GenSan rally Thursday. While in training, he had refused to talk about politics, saying this could wait when he returns. On his return, however, Pacquiao might find the political ring a harder arena, and Custodio, a more difficult opponent than Solis or Erik Morales, whom he also knocked out, in the third round last November.
The family of Custodio, principally her father Adelbert Antonino, is mainly responsible for the boom in GenSan. Except for a brief stretch when Rosalie Nu?ez was city mayor, the Antoninos and their allies had kept their supremacy in local and district politics.
Pacquiao is slated to arrive in Manila on Tuesday and then he will proceed to GenSan where residents, including the Antoninos, will roll out the red carpet for him.
His endorsement carries a lot of weight among fans who idolize him. Pacquiao has been featured in a political advertisement endorsing senatorial candidate Gov. Chavit Singson of Ilocos Sur. This time around, he is expected to endorse all 12 Team Unity candidates.
The TU candidates will proceed to General Santos City a day after a swing in Cotabato City and Palawan. Besides a final run in the Luzon and the Visayas, Team Unity will also embark on a “peace and development” caravan in the various provinces, cities and towns in Mindanao to reiterate their commitment to push the administration’s peace and development programs in the island.
Starting on April 22, Team Unity senatorial candidates will be alternately in Min?danao with some breaks for Luzon and Visayas sorties before kicking off their Mindanao-wide caravan on April 28 until May 7.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone, TU spokesman, said this is in consonance with their “customized campaign strategy” to maximize their strength in their own bailiwicks.
Evardone explained that as the campaign enters the critical homestretch, Team Unity is making the most of its “homecourt advantage” in areas where local officials have pledged to support the TU ticket.
“Like in basketball, Team Unity has a homecourt advantage because in most areas, local officials have committed to back the senatorial bids of our candidates unlike the opposition which does not have even have local bets in many areas,” Evardone said.
Meanwhile, the General Santos City government here is preparing for a “grand” hero’s welcome for Manny Pacquiao when he returns.
Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. said the local government would definitely roll out the red carpet for PacMan. His statement counters earlier reports that the city will not welcome the Filipino boxing icon, who is running against re?electionist South Cotabato First District Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
Custodio is a close political ally of Acharon and a co-member of the political party called Achievers with Integrity Movement.
