Manny Pacquiao to run for Cebu City vice mayor?

CEBU, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is interested in running for vice mayor of Cebu City and has agreed to be the runningmate of Georgia Osmena.

In fact, he visited yesterday the Cebu City office of the Comelec and asked for a certificate of candidacy form.

He, however, did not say when he will accomplish the form or when he is going to file it, saying only that he will do so in due time.Manny Pacquiao, though, is not the same Manny Pacquiao you have in mind.

He is lawyer Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, a Cebuano bar topnotcher who has been a law professor at the University of the Visayas for the past 32 years.

The namesake of the boxing icon from General Santos City placed 3rd in the 1976 bar examination and has been teaching law ever since.

Now, 61, he is no stranger to City Hall, having served as OIC councilor during the term of OIC councilor Sonny Osmeña.

At the city council, Pacquiao served as chairman of the committee on laws and revision of laws.

Prior to joining the city council, Pacquiao was assistant city attorney and acting city attorney during the time of mayor Eulogio Borres Sr.

He was also special assistant to then governor and now congressman Eduardo Gullas.

Aside from teaching law, Pacquiao also holds several consultancies with a number of big corporations.

Pacquiao believes Georgia Osmeña is the right person to succeed her older brother Tomas Osmeña who is now on his third and last term.

“I am looking at change in leadership and I have seen that she has the dynamism to be a good leader and accomplish much for the development of the city,” Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao, who is from barangay Lahug, has high hopes of winning, not only because of his personal competence, but also because of the name recall generated by his more famous namesake.

Pacquiao claims he is distantly related to the world famous Filipino boxer.

“It can help my candidacy a lot that I have the same name as Manny Pacquiao,” he said.

Georgia Osmeña said she will file her certificate of candidacy on Tuesday morning next week, the last day of filing, together with her runningmate and her candidates for councilor.

If so, don’t be surprised if the newspapers the following day carry photos of a different looking Manny Pacquiao. (/JST)   (FREEMAN NEWS)