MANILA, Philippines—Keep out of politics. You may be fearsome in the ring but in the political arena, you may end up like Ricky Hatton—cold and senseless on the canvas.
Malacañang on Tuesday cautioned Manny Pacquiao, who ran for Congress but lost in 2007, against returning to politics.
“He is being idolized because he is one very good boxer—a tough one—but we don’t know if he would be just as tough as a politician,” Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a press briefing.
“That might be the time when he would be knocked out.”
Bello said Pacquiao “should think about it a thousand times before he makes a decision about entering politics.”
“When it comes to boxing, we have no worries for him but if he enters politics, he’s a greenhorn,” Bello said. “Every Filipino would hate to see the day when he is knocked out [in the political arena].”
Still in his prime as a boxer, Pacquiao has all the time to focus on politics once his boxing career is over, Bello said, suggesting Pacquiao first take care of the flashy American Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Senators, too, are not too keen about Pacquiao being a politician. They either want him to remain as a boxer or try another arena.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Pacquiao could help bring peace to the troubled South.
“I suggest the goodwill Manny Pacquiao has struck in our people’s hearts and minds be immediately put to good use in the search for peace in Mindanao, perhaps as an adviser to the peace panel,” Pimentel said in a text message.
While they said the choice was up to Pacquiao, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Escudero preferred that the boxing champion pursue his boxing career.
“His name has been carved in the history of the Philippines, he’s now a legend. I think he should stick to what he has been known for, that is in sports,” Lacson said.
He said politics would only give Pacquiao headaches, not to mention, enemies.
Escudero said he could not blame people for wanting Pacquiao to remain in boxing.
“His fights are the few [occasions] that we unite, man or woman, administration or opposition, red or white,” Escudero told reporters.
5 Senate resolutions
Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Pacquiao had every right to get into politics but it was too early for him to run for the Senate, if ever. But he said Pacquiao had been a very good symbol for the youth and the nation.
Still, senators were elated about Pacquiao’s knockout of Hatton, filing five resolutions to honor him for the feat.
The resolutions were filed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Richard Gordon and Sen. Lito Lapid.
Pacquiao has signaled his intention to return to politics by forming the People’s Champ Movement (PCM) and petitioning the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to accredit it as a “local political party.”
“The major benefit of having a political party is that it will enable you to increase your campaign spending,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters.
“An independent candidate can only spend his money. If you have a political party, the party can contribute to your spending.”
Under election laws, an independent candidate can only spend P5 per voter. A candidate with a political party can spend twice more than that, to include party contributions, Jimenez said.
Party machinery
“If you have a political party, it (also) means that you have a machinery. There will be help for you in the campaign. You will have somebody campaigning for you even if you are not there,” he said.
If the Comelec approves Pacquiao’s petition, it would also mean he could fund and support other candidates in General Santos City and in Sarangani province.
As a local political party, PCM can only support candidates for local office. However, it can field candidates for national positions if it partners with a national political party, Jimenez said.
Jimenez said the Comelec was expected to rule on Pacquiao’s petition within the month.
Commissioner Rene Sarmiento has expressed disappointment at Pacquiao’s decision to enter politics.
“We know politics is divisive so that will not help the Filipinos and Manny. My advice for Manny is to remain a national icon and national symbol of unity,” Sarmiento said.
PCM platform
According to its constitution and bylaws, PCM aims to promote the economy and improve the peace and order situation in General Santos and Sarangani.
PCM says it also wants to create a “special economic zone and bring investors to General Santos City and Sarangani province.”
The party wants to revive the Civilian Volunteers Organization and “promote high morale among military service units through the transparent use, distribution, and utilization of the intelligence funds.”
Malacañang on Tuesday cautioned Manny Pacquiao, who ran for Congress but lost in 2007, against returning to politics.
“He is being idolized because he is one very good boxer—a tough one—but we don’t know if he would be just as tough as a politician,” Cabinet Secretary Silvestre Bello III said in a press briefing.
“That might be the time when he would be knocked out.”
Bello said Pacquiao “should think about it a thousand times before he makes a decision about entering politics.”
“When it comes to boxing, we have no worries for him but if he enters politics, he’s a greenhorn,” Bello said. “Every Filipino would hate to see the day when he is knocked out [in the political arena].”
Still in his prime as a boxer, Pacquiao has all the time to focus on politics once his boxing career is over, Bello said, suggesting Pacquiao first take care of the flashy American Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Senators, too, are not too keen about Pacquiao being a politician. They either want him to remain as a boxer or try another arena.
Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Pacquiao could help bring peace to the troubled South.
“I suggest the goodwill Manny Pacquiao has struck in our people’s hearts and minds be immediately put to good use in the search for peace in Mindanao, perhaps as an adviser to the peace panel,” Pimentel said in a text message.
While they said the choice was up to Pacquiao, Senators Panfilo Lacson and Francis Escudero preferred that the boxing champion pursue his boxing career.
“His name has been carved in the history of the Philippines, he’s now a legend. I think he should stick to what he has been known for, that is in sports,” Lacson said.
He said politics would only give Pacquiao headaches, not to mention, enemies.
Escudero said he could not blame people for wanting Pacquiao to remain in boxing.
“His fights are the few [occasions] that we unite, man or woman, administration or opposition, red or white,” Escudero told reporters.
5 Senate resolutions
Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II said Pacquiao had every right to get into politics but it was too early for him to run for the Senate, if ever. But he said Pacquiao had been a very good symbol for the youth and the nation.
Still, senators were elated about Pacquiao’s knockout of Hatton, filing five resolutions to honor him for the feat.
The resolutions were filed by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Sen. Richard Gordon and Sen. Lito Lapid.
Pacquiao has signaled his intention to return to politics by forming the People’s Champ Movement (PCM) and petitioning the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to accredit it as a “local political party.”
“The major benefit of having a political party is that it will enable you to increase your campaign spending,” Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez told reporters.
“An independent candidate can only spend his money. If you have a political party, the party can contribute to your spending.”
Under election laws, an independent candidate can only spend P5 per voter. A candidate with a political party can spend twice more than that, to include party contributions, Jimenez said.
Party machinery
“If you have a political party, it (also) means that you have a machinery. There will be help for you in the campaign. You will have somebody campaigning for you even if you are not there,” he said.
If the Comelec approves Pacquiao’s petition, it would also mean he could fund and support other candidates in General Santos City and in Sarangani province.
As a local political party, PCM can only support candidates for local office. However, it can field candidates for national positions if it partners with a national political party, Jimenez said.
Jimenez said the Comelec was expected to rule on Pacquiao’s petition within the month.
Commissioner Rene Sarmiento has expressed disappointment at Pacquiao’s decision to enter politics.
“We know politics is divisive so that will not help the Filipinos and Manny. My advice for Manny is to remain a national icon and national symbol of unity,” Sarmiento said.
PCM platform
According to its constitution and bylaws, PCM aims to promote the economy and improve the peace and order situation in General Santos and Sarangani.
PCM says it also wants to create a “special economic zone and bring investors to General Santos City and Sarangani province.”
The party wants to revive the Civilian Volunteers Organization and “promote high morale among military service units through the transparent use, distribution, and utilization of the intelligence funds.”
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