WHICH one sounds better, Congressman or Mayor Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao?
The multimillionaire boxing icon from this city is in a quandary after he declared Monday last week that he is seriously considering the offer of local leaders of the administration-backed Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (CMD) party to run either as mayor or congressman in the coming May elections.
Amid wild cheers from more than 100 local Lakas-CMD stalwarts who joined the party’s caucus at a local hotel here, the visibly elated Pacquiao said he is narrowing down his choices to the two positions should he eventually decide to join the political fray.
“I really have to seriously think which position would suit me in case I decide to run. I want to make a decision that I could properly explain to the people,” he said.
Pacquiao, who was rumored to have been seriously eyeing various local posts for the May 11 polls, joined the Lakas-CMD caucus on invitations from its local leaders led by his lawyer and confidante Franklin Gacal Jr.
He was reported last year to have decided to run as Mayor of Kiamba town in Sarangani province where his wife Jinkee hails.
Last month, it was rumored that he might decide to be the running mate of mayoral bet Ali Atienza in Manila.
Discoro Nunez, local Lakas-CMD chair, said the ring icon is the party’s top choice to lead them in their quest to wrest control of City Hall here from the opposition Nationalist People’s Coalition this May.
“It’s now up to him what position he wants to pick. The congressman and mayoral positions are open for him,” he said.
Nunez’ said his wife Rosalita, a former mayor of this city, is not keen about running again as mayor since their family may not be able to raise the needed money to woo the city’s about 280,000 registered voters.
He said his wife is very much willing to be the running mate of Pacquiao should the latter choose to run for mayor.
When that happens, he said Gacal would become the party’s bet for congressman.
