THE KING of the ring is being eyed to throw his hat into the political ring.
Manila’s favorite adopted son, boxing star Manny Pacquiao, is being seriously considered to run alongside ex-taekwondo standout Arnold “Ali” Atienza in the 2007 national and local elections.
While Atienza, son of incumbent Manila Mayor Lito, is reportedly being groomed to be the next mayor of Manila, Pacquiao would be vying for the vice-mayoralty seat under the administration banner as speculations swirled yesterday that the popular pugilist might indeed try his hand in politics.
When contacted yesterday, Pacquiao did not deny or confirm the speculations.
Pacquiao’s application for transfer of residency was filed on July 5, 2006, as he owns a condominium unit at the Residencias de Manila in Paco district. The unit was given to him by Mayor Atienza after Pacquiao fought and lost a tough decision to Mexican Erik Morales in March 2005 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
While Pacquiao is from General Santos City in Mindanao, he has spent the last ten years of his life in Manila, where he started his professional career under the tutelage of Malabon construction magnate Polding Correa and the tandem of Rod Nazario and Lito Mondejar, who own the L&M Gym in Sampaloc where Pacquiao trained starting in 1995.
The Atienzas have been avid supporters of Pacquiao the past few years and everytime the fighter arrives from a fight overseas, he is always given a hero’s welcome, win, lose or draw.
The young Atienza is being groomed to take the place of his old man, who is no longer eligible for reelection and is said to be setting his sights on a senatorial seat.
But the young Atienza is non-commital.
“The elections are still far away,” Ali told a scribe.
Signs that Pacquiao is also keen in running in Manila is a story from General Santos City quoting the boxer as saying that he will hang up his gloves after two more fights (against Morales and probably versus Marco Antonio Barrera in March (2007).
