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By Efren L. Danao, Senior
Reporter
The mettle of boxing icon Manny
Pacquiao will be tested off the boxing arena Thursday when he
plunges into his first political rally in General Santos City with
Team Unity senatorial candidates and local candidates in General
Santos City.
Pacquiao, who knocked out
challenger Jorge Solis in the eighth round in San Antonio, Texas, is
challenging Rep. Darlene Antonino Custodio of the Genuine Opposition
who is seeking her third term. His certificate of candidacy was
filed by his lawyer as he was already in the United States training
for the Solis bout during the deadline for the submission of COCs.
Pacquiao will be making his first
political speech at the GenSan rally Thursday. While in training, he
had refused to talk about politics, saying this could wait when he
returns. On his return, however, Pacquiao might find the political
ring a harder arena, and Custodio, a more difficult opponent than
Solis or Erik Morales, whom he also knocked out, in the third round
last November.
The family of Custodio,
principally her father Adelbert Antonino, is mainly responsible for
the boom in GenSan. Except for a brief stretch when Rosalie Nuñez
was city mayor, the Antoninos and their allies had kept their
supremacy in local and district politics.
Pacquiao is slated to arrive in
Manila on Tuesday and then he will proceed to GenSan where
residents, including the Antoninos, will roll out the red carpet for
him.
His endorsement carries a lot of
weight among fans who idolize him. Pacquiao has been featured in a
political advertisement endorsing senatorial candidate Gov. Chavit
Singson of Ilocos Sur. This time around, he is expected to endorse
all 12 Team Unity candidates.
The TU candidates will proceed to
General Santos City a day after a swing in Cotabato City and Palawan.
Besides a final run in the Luzon and the Visayas, Team Unity will
also embark on a “peace and development” caravan in the various
provinces, cities and towns in Mindanao to reiterate their
commitment to push the administration’s peace and development
programs in the island.
Starting on April 22, Team Unity
senatorial candidates will be alternately in Mindanao with some
breaks for Luzon and Visayas sorties before kicking off their
Mindanao-wide caravan on April 28 until May 7.
Eastern Samar Gov. Ben Evardone,
TU spokesman, said this is in consonance with their “customized
campaign strategy” to maximize their strength in their own
bailiwicks.
Evardone explained that as the
campaign enters the critical homestretch, Team Unity is making the
most of its “homecourt advantage” in areas where local officials
have pledged to support the TU ticket.
“Like in basketball, Team Unity
has a homecourt advantage because in most areas, local officials
have committed to back the senatorial bids of our candidates unlike
the opposition which does not have even have local bets in many
areas,” Evardone said.
Meanwhile, the General Santos
City government here is preparing for a “grand” hero’s welcome
for Manny Pacquiao when he returns.
Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. said the
local government would definitely roll out the red carpet for PacMan.
His statement counters earlier reports that the city will not
welcome the Filipino boxing icon, who is running against reelectionist
South Cotabato First District Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
Custodio is a close political
ally of Acharon and a co-member of the political party called
Achievers with Integrity Movement.
With Isagani P. Palma
Correspondent
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