Villar picks Pacquiao as NP bet in Sarangani

STO TOMAS, Batangas , Philippines  – Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Villar Jr. declared here yesterday that boxing legend Manny Pacquiao would be running for congressman of Sarangani province under the Nacionalista Party (NP).

Villar said arrangements would be made to accommodate Pacquiao’s People’s Champ Movement (PCM) in a coalition with the NP for the local elections in Sarangani in May 2010.

The boxing icon, however, has not made any announcement on which political party he would affiliate with.

“He (Pacquiao) is with us. I don’t know yet how the arrangements would be but he will be our candidate in Sarangani,” Villar told reporters.

Villar made the announcement before a crowd of supporters during the oath-taking ceremony of new party members led by former governor Armand Sanchez.

Villar said Pacquiao made known his intention to join NP and run for Congress during the dinner hosted by Solar Sports for the newly crowned WBO welterweight champion at the Manila Hotel last Friday.

He said Pacquiao even handed him a signed copy of a DVD of his fight with Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas.

He said Pacquiao signed the DVD “To my President” and gave it as a gift during the dinner.

“Maybe that means he wants (me to) become his president. To be fair, we have to give him that opportunity. I encourage my supporters in the local politics to initiate the announcements,” Villar told reporters.

Pacquiao arrived in Manila from Los Angeles last Friday and was paraded around the metropolis, did a mini-concert and met President Arroyo who conferred on the 30-year-old boxing icon the Lakandula Award.

The boxer, who defeated Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico last week to become the first fighter in history to win seven world titles in seven different weight classes, left Manila yesterday morning and was accorded another hero's welcome in his hometown in Gen. Santos City.

Pacquiao then proceeded to Sarangani, where his wife Jinkee is a native, and toured the towns of Maasim, Kiamba and Maitum.

Pacquiao made his presence felt in apparent preparation for his plans to represent the province in the House of Representatives, challenging Roy Chiongbian of the powerful political clan in next year's elections.

Pacquiao, however, has yet to announce whether he would run under the NP.

“There is no official announcement yet coming from Manny himself. But Manny has to make an announcement soon because he and his political opponent are both (from the administration party) Lakas-Kampi-CMD,” according to Bren Evangelio, a close aide of Pacquiao.

"What we know is that Sen. Manny Villar has been courting Manny to join NP. Ligaw ng ligaw (very persistent suitor),” he added.

While he's a veteran of many fights in the ring, Pacquiao is considered a sophomore in the political arena. In 2007, he ran and lost against incumbent South Cotabato (First District) Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio, who is also from a powerful political clan.

Roy Chiongbian is no different, as he comes from a family that has been in politics for a long, long time. His mother, 80-year-old Priscilla, former governor of the province, is known as “the mother of Sarangani” while his brother, Rep. Erwin Chiongbian, is the incumbent congressman.

Roy, on the other hand, is a top executive of Eastern Shipping Lines and has been chosen the “gatekeeper” of the vast Chiongbian business empire involved in shipping, real estate, and agri-business.

Upon his arrival in Manila, Pacquiao was asked if he was pushing through with his bid for Congress.

“I never said I was pulling out of the race. So, it’s on,” declared Pacquiao.

Pacquiao later told reporters at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) that he would definitely seek a congressional seat as representative of Sarangani or party-list representative of PCM.

Pacquiao practically shot down the possibility of running under the administration Lakas-Kampi-CMD during the interview with reporters.

Pacquiao revealed he would file his certificate of candidacy before the deadline on Dec. 1. – With Abac Cordero