South Cotabato first district Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio has welcomed Filipino boxing champion Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao?s decision to challenge her in the May 14 congressional elections.
?Malaya naman ang kada Pilipino na mag-presinta sa sarili nila sa halalan sa kahit anong posisyon (All Filipinos are free to present themselves in the elections for any electoral post),? Custodio told ABS-CBN?s Magandang Umaga Pilipinas in an interview Tuesday.
?Tunay naman na malakas na kandidato si Manny kung kaya siguro siya ay napili ng administrasyon na lumaban sa akin (Manny is truly a formidable candidate that?s probably why he was chosen by the administration to challenge me),? she added.
In the same interview, Pacquiao said that he decided to run for the post to help bring Congress closer to the people of the province.
?Siguro ako ang magiging tulay para doon sa distrito ko, distrito namin, para dalhin ang national government doon (Perhaps I can become a bridge for the district to bring the district closer to the national government),? he said.
Pacquiao also dismissed doubts on his qualifications in seeking a congressional seat.
?Matalino nga sila pero wala naman silang nagawa. Ang kailangan ng tao ay hindi yung talino kung hindi yung serbisyo sa mahihirap (Some candidates may be smart but have accomplished nothing. What the people need are not smart candidates, but those with the desire to serve the poor),? he said.
Although he is set to join the political arena, Pacquiao said he would never give up boxing, which has given him fame, wealth and honor to the Philippines.
?Kaya ko naman sigurong paglaanan ng panahon yung pagbo-boxing ko at pagse-serbisyo ko sa tao (I can devote time to both my boxing career and my service to the people),? he said.
Pacquiao will run under the Liberal Party faction of Manila Mayor Lito Atienza while Custodio will be under the Nationalist People?s Coalition, which is headed by businessman Eduardo ?Danding? Conjuangco.
