Congressman Pac Man!

Filipino boxer secures landslide victory

By Roel Landingin - Manila

Published: May 14 2010 06:19

Manny Pacquiao, the international boxing champion from the Philipines, was proclaimed congressman representing the southern province of Sarangani late Thursday night after winning by a two-to-one landslide.
Mr Pacquiao, ranked with Floyd Mayweather as the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer by The Ring magazine, is likely to enter the ring again in November in the US. Fans are hoping he will be introduced as “The Fighting Congressman from the Philippines.”

The election victory came as a surprise as Mr Pacquiao, who lost the first time he ran for Congress in his more prosperous hometown of General Santos city, was up against a powerful and wealthy family that has ruled the province since 1992.


Sarangani is one of the country’s most backward provinces where almost half of the people are considered poor.

Mr Pacquiao promised to launch programmes to help create jobs and opportunities for Sarangani residents, most of whom are impoverished farmers and fishermen. He said he plans to use his “pork barrel” allocation to set up a local college for the province.

Michael Konzc, Pacquiao’s financial adviser, has said the new congressman will fight again in November, according to the Associated Press. AP reported that no opponent has been named yet amid speculation it could be Floyd Mayweather Jr or Antonio Margarito. The bouts could take place in November 6 and November 13 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Texas in the US, said AP.



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