GENERAL SANTOS CITY: World Boxing Council lightweight champion Manny Pacquiao has officially endorsed his two spokesmen for political affairs, even as his would be political opponents have issued ?disparaging remarks? about his early plans to run in Sarangani in the 2010 synchronized elections.
?I have officially designated Malungon town Mayor Reynado ?Bong? Constantino as my spokesperson in the first district, while incumbent provincial board member Danny Martinez will be my presenter for the second district,? Pacquiao, who was in the United States, told The Manila Times in a phone patched interview Sunday.
Pacquiao said he has given Constantino the blanket authority to represent as his political spokesman in the 1st district of Sarangani which is composed of the municipalities of Malungon (biggest municipality), Glan (second largest town), Malapatan, and the provincial capital town of Alabel. He said Martinez was designated to represent the coastal towns of Kiamba, Maasim and Maitum.
?Maybe Manny realized the ardent need to appoint somebody that would officially speak in his behalf, specifically when he is out of the country. This is to protect his political bid in Congress. Dahil nagiging masyado na siyang kawawa sa mga alegasyon na ibinabato sa kanya ng mga makakalaban nya sa pulitika [Because it seems he is always caught off guard by allegations against him being made by his would be political opponents],? said Constantino, who facilitated the brief conversation with the ?Pacman.?
Constantino said Pacquiao has decided to form the speakers? bureau following the publicized media statements of Rep. Erwin Chiongbian, advising Pacquiao to quit from his political ambitions and simply ?focus on his god-given talent in boxing.?
Chiongbian said he will only spend 20 percent of what Pacquiao intends to ?throw? in Sarangani.
?We have a strong machinery and it would be another waste of money for Pacquiao to run following his defeat from Rep. Darlene Custodio in South Cotabato,? Chiongbian, who is due to retire in his three-year term in Congress, earlier said.
Chiongbian is eying to support his 84-year old mother Priscilla, who allegedly showed interest to vie for a congressional seat. A reliable source inside the Sarangani Reformation and Reconciliation Organization, a local-based political party, said the prominent family is also set to launch the incumbent congressman?s wife Nancy to run for the same position in the elections.
Designated by President Gloria Arroyo to be the country?s official flag bearer in the opening of Beijing 2008 Olympics on Wednesday, Pacquiao said he would be back in the city to arrange his (political) bid in Sarangani by next week.
Contantino called Pacquiao in the US after receiving a huge package and a bicycle the latter for a six-year- old boy in Sarangani, who is suffering from acute limonitic leukemia. The boy, through the help of Constantino, personally approached the boxing icon for help with his illness. Pacquiao also assured Constantino of the arrival of a fire truck, an ambulance, a police car and a school bus for Maungon town. Pacquiao said these were all donated by Filipino-American boxing fans in the US.
