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GENERAL SANTOS CITY: “I would like to say, ‘Good
luck, Pacman,’ though I much rather advice him to stay with his
God-given gift as a boxer rather than enter politics again,” said
Sarangani Rep. Erwin Chiongbian, who is due to retire his three-year
term in Congress come 2010.
Chiongbian said Pacquiao’s
defeat from Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio in 2007 elections should
have made him realize that he is not destined for politics but to
shed blood atop the ring for his countrymen.
“I will just spend 20 percent
if ever Pacman throws his P200 million in Sarangani province for the
campaign. And of course, the Chiongbians would still prevail because
of our strong political machinery and track record in uplifting the
plight of our constituents,” Chiongbian said.
Some political pundits theorize
that one main cause of Pacquiao’s defeat from Custodio in 2007 was
his absence during the campaign period. He was then busy preparing
for a boxing bout against former World Boxing Council super
featherweight champion Jorge Solis in San Antonio Texas. Pacquiao
defeated Solis.
Chiongbian said the supposed
“brewing controversy” concerning the alleged realignment of the
local administration’s Sarangani Reconciliation and Reformation
Organization political party and the possible formation of the
Pacquiao-Dominguez-Solon alliance in Sarangani is baseless.
“These are all part of a plan
initiated by those who want to be in politics at the expense of the
Pacman,” said Chiongbian, as he lashed out against incumbent Board
Members Tata Yap and Danny Martinez who are reportedly eying the
mayoralty position in the municipalities of Kiamba and Glan.
Chiongbian also belittled the
capacity of Malungon town Mayor Reynaldo “Bong” Constantino to
deliver a victory for Pacquiao in the upcoming elections, even with
the support of electorates from Malungon, which is considered as the
largest town in the seven municipalities of the province.
On the contrary, a majority of
local officials have welcomed Pacquiao’s entry to politics in the
province, which ironically was created in 1992 upon the initiative
of the late Rep. James Chiongbian.
In an earlier interview by The
Manila Times with Governor Miguel Alcantara Dominguez, a close party
mate of Rep. Chiongbian, he hinted on the lone congressional
district of Sarangani as possibly having a new representative after
the 2010 elections.
Dominguez was candid enough to
admit that President Gloria Arroyo, with whom Pacquiao is now
closely associated, would have the prerogative to endorse the
official congressional bet for Sarangani. He added that the boxing
icon will be arriving to attend the President’s state of the
nation address in Congress on Monday.
--Isagani P. Palma
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