ALABEL, Sarangani, Philippines?World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao expressed confidence he will win his first victory outside the boxing ring on May 10 against his formidable political opponent.
?I am confident that I will win in this election,? Pacquaio told reporters after a mini version of the Wowowillie/Rockatropa concert was held Saturday night in this town.
Pacquiao faces businessman Roy Chiongban in the race for the lone congressional district of Sarangani.
Pacquiao said his long preparation for his return bout in the political ring would spell victory for him, so much unlike the knock-out punch delivered to him by South Cotabato Rep. Darlene Custodio-Antonino in the May 2007 mid-term elections.
?I wasn’t prepared before. [That time] I decided to run one month before the elections. This time, two years before the elections, I started [campaigning] already,? he said.
?This time I started early so no doubt I will win,? he added.
Police estimated some 15,000 people attended the concert rally in the town plaza. The concert was top-billed by Pacquiao, Nacionalista Party standard-bearer Sen. Manuel Villar, and Wowowee host Willie Revillame.
Revillame promised the crowd that he would bring back Wowowee to Sarangani if they would make Villar and Pacquiao win in the elections.
