MANILA – The world’s best boxer Manny Pacquiao and Imelda Marcos, defiant wife of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos spiced the May 10 elections. Much interest focuses on Pacquiao, the seven-time world champion boxer who is running for a seat at the House of Representatives. Pacquiao is counting on his hero status to get him elected, but he failed in a similar bid in the 2007 Congressional elections. Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said the boxer could again be struck a knock-out political blow. “It’s going to be difficult for him. He is up against someone who has been in local politics for a long time,” Pulse Asia president Ronald Holmes said. Also seeking a seat in the House of Representatives is 80-year-old Imelda Marcos. Imelda is regarded as a near certainty to win the seat in the northern province of Ilocos Norte that is being vacated by her son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., as the family has maintained its grip on power in the province for decades. The spotlight is also trained on President Gloria Arroyo, who is not allowed under the constitution to seek re-election, after she registered to run for a lower house seat in her home province of Pampagna. Arroyo’s critics have warned she may secretly be aiming to use a parliamentary position as a power base to change the constitution and allow her to return to power as the country’s first prime minister. While the presidential candidates’ election season began Tuesday, those vying for lower positions will not be allowed to officially begin campaigning until March 26. – AFP
