FRANKLIN GACAL, lawyer of Manny Pacquiao, disclosed yesterday that he will hand-carry and file Pacquiao’s certificate of candidacy (COC) for congressman for the first district of South Cotabato either on March 28 or 29.
“Everything is all set,” Gacal said yesterday from General Santos City, hometown of Pacquiao. “We have been getting positive feedbacks from people regarding Manny’s political plans here.”
Gacal will file Pacquiao’s candidacy in Koronadal City, which is about 45 minutes by land from Gen. Santos City.
The towns of Polomolok, Tupi and Tampakan are also part of the province’s first district.
Pacquiao will go up against youthful and well-known oppositionist Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who is seeking her third and final term, and whose family has controlled the political affairs of the province for the last 20 years.
Pacquiao is currently in the US training for an April 14 bout against unbeaten Mexican Jorge Solis at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas.
Although Solis is not expected to last the scheduled 12-rounder, supporters of Pacquiao believe that the Filipino lefty cannot afford to take his unfancied foe lightly.
“Pacquiao’s chances in the elections will be greatly affected if he loses against Solis so Pacquiao badly needs a victory because we feel that once he wins (against Solis), the elections would just be a formality,” said a Pacquiao backer.
Despite Pacquiao’s massive war chest, the Antoninos believe they still have the advantage over the country’s boxing icon because of their strong connection with the influential clans in Tampakan, Tupi and Polomolok.
The backers of Pacquiao, including a senatorial candidate, are reportedly willing to spend more than R300 million just to ensure the victory of the flamboyant boxer.
“They (Pacquiao backers) really want to ease out Darlene but we’re not going to abandon Darlene. She has done so many good things in our town,” said an official from Tampakan who refused to be identified.
Antonino is a staunch critic of the Arroyo administration and has figured in an attempt to impeach President Arroyo in the congress.
The Antoninos are also believed to be a strong ally of San Miguel big boss Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr.
Interestingly, Pacquiao is one of San Miguel’s top endorsers.
It is believed that Pacquiao will immediately fly back to the Philippines a day after the Solis showdown so he could catch up in the campaign trail.
In fact, Gacal will go straight to San Antonio two days before the fight and they are expected to get a connecting flight to Los Angeles from the Alamo the morning after the bout.
If everything falls into place, Pacquiao will arrive in Manila early Tuesday morning (April 17) via Philippine Airlines and catch the 7 a.m. trip to GenSan. That is if Pacquiao escapes the upset axe.
