With popularity and crowd-drawing potential considered among the advantages a presidential bet may gain from him, Filipino boxing icon and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao is being asked to give up any ambition to become senator if he will not join the Liberal Party team headed by Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas.
Pacquiao has refused to confirm or deny the information but he admitted that he has sought ?Divine guidance? to help him decide in what way he would best serve his constituents.
?I will announce what I will do in 2016 at the right time.
In the meantime, I am seeking Divine guidance for correct discernment of how to best serve our country,? Pacquiao told reporters during a chance interview.
Although silent about reports that Roxas has been relentlessly pursuing him as part of the administration senatorial ticket, Pacquiao said he may run for re-election, for governor of Saranggani or for senator.
However, a highly reliable source from the Pacquiao camp admitted hearing that the administration team has appealed for him to stay away from national politics if he will not join the Roxas team.
The source would not say who among Roxas? allies aired the appeal for the Cabinet official.
Roxas recently made a personal pitch to the eight-division world boxing great during a highly-confidential meeting in a Makati City hotel.
?The secretary decided to personally convince Cong. Manny because Erice failed,? the source said.
Previously, Pacquiao hinted he would run under the ticket headed by Vice President Jejomar Binay if he decides on a senatorial bid.
Political advisers had counselled him against supporting Binay, pointing out that the on-going Senate blue ribbon inquiry linking Binay to fund anomalies could put Pacquiao in bad light.
Making it bleaker for Binay to get Pacquiao?s built-in endorsement is the fact that Pacquiao is also close to fellow Mindanaoan, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte?s camp has recently dropped hints the feisty local executive will exploit his rising popularity to run for president.
?Instead of joining any political group, we advised him to instead run as an independent candidate if he would pursue a Senate post,? the source said. (BEN ROSARIO)
