By Manny Piñol
Talks about Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao eyeing a Senate seat or even leaving his party, UNA, to join the administration Liberal Party (LP) are all speculation and guess work.
The man himself, Manny Pacquiao, says he has not made up his mind on whether to consider the offer to run for a Senate seat, serve his people as Governor of Saranggani or take a rest from politics.
“It’s 33.3% for all three options,” Pacquiao said when I met him in the site of a huge mansion he is building for his family in the heart of General Santos City.
Reminded that there would still be a difference of .1% left in his three choices, Pacquiao chuckled and said that his wife, Jinkee, now Vice Governor of Saranggani is convincing him to run for Governor so he could focus on helping his province mates and have more time with his family.
Earlier this year, Pacquiao decided to pull out his children from the International School in Metro Manila and brought them home to study in a rural school in Gen. Santos City.
“Deep in my heart, I only want to help my people lift themselves up from poverty,” he said adding that legislative work may not have a direct impact on the lives of the poor residents of Saranggani.
Should he decide to run for Governor of Saranggani, Pacquiao will have to convince his political ally and incumbent Governor Steve Solon to trade political seats, with the latter to running for Congress instead.
Opting to be Governor of Saranggani could be the most preferable option for Pacquiao.
Not only would the Governorship be inexpensive because he is expected to run unopposed, it could also be a convenient way out of a very serious political predicament should he run for the Senate.
Pacquiao, who is known for his loyalty to his friends, good or bad, is torn between his membership with the UNA, the party of beleaguered Presidential hopeful Jejomar Binay, and his personal friendship with Davao City Mayor Rody Duterte, who is being convinced by many sectors to run for President.
“Personally, I like Rody Duterte to be President. This country needs a leader who is firm, incorruptible and courageous,” he said about his personal choice for the Presidency.
“But I cannot just turn my back on my party and the Vice President, especially now that he is under attack. Ano na lang ang sabihin nila na iniwan ko si VP dahil ina-atake?,” he said in a statement which is very characteristic of Manny Pacquiao, the forgiving and loyal friend.
Running for a local post would free him from an awkward situation where he runs under the party of Binay while declaring that he likes his friend, Rody Duterte who is a fellow Mindanaoan, to become the next President.
Pacquiao also said that he is considering retirement from politics altogether to prepare for a life as a businessman.
“I am involved with a group which is into hydro-power generation now,” he said.
He is also working now on the relaunch of the TV boxing show, “Blow by Blow” which made Pacquiao a household name and paved the way to international boxing stardom.
“I will leave my options open,” he said but emphasised that his wife, Jinkee, really would prefer that he consider the Governorship.
Knowing how his love for Jinkee and his family made him decide to “abandon a life of debauchery” and turn to a life of prayer, it is almost certain that the un-allocated .1% in his three options could swing to the option to run for Governor.
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