Pacquiao Mulls Running as Independent Senator

Lapu-Lapu City — While he is still carefully weighing his political options, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao might end up running as “independent senatorial candidate” in the May 2016 elections.

“Kino-consider din niya na maging independent senatorial candidate kasi mabuti yung ganoon walang magtampo sa kanya na mga presidentiables (He is considering in becoming an independent senatorial candidate because it would not in a way upset any of the presidentiables),” a top aide of Pacquiao told this writer during the 1st Manny Pacquiao Challenge Philippine Shooters Match Officers Confederation (PSMOC) National Level lll competition held at the Cebu Pistol and Rifle Association (CPRA) Firing Range at Barangay (village) Pusok here.

The source said Pacquiao is placing his (political) cards close to his chest until the filing of certificates of candidacy in October but added that one of them is to run as independent senatorial candidate instead of being among the senatorial line-ups of political parties.

Pacquiao himself would not reveal his plans though but the aide explained that being an independent senatorial candidate is very viable option because a lot of presidentiables has been courting the Sarangani lawmaker.

Pacquiao has attended the launching of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice Pres. Jejomar Binay last June 30 being a party member but the source admitted that since his Boss could not refuse, has also held talks with DILG Sec. Mar Roxas of the Liberal Party (LP) and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, who according to the source has also been inviting Cong. Pacquiao in their senatorial fold.

According to the source, Pacquiao is also considering to run as Sarangani Governor in order not to offend any political group but the source said this appears to be of lesser priority because Pacquiao’s ally, Gov. Steve Solon is still eligible for reelection.

Pacquiao is also somewhat comfortable in being address as “future senator” but in chance interview with reporters, he said that he has not yet decided.

“I haven’t decided yet on anything. Let us just wait and see,” Emmanuel Villaruel also of Philboxing.com wrote in his report.

When called as “darating na Senator (future Senator) the legislator gamely nodded when Sultan Kudarat Governor Suharto “Teng” Mangudadatu addressed him as such in Mangudadatu’s welcome remarks of the shootfest. The Governor is the PSMOC national president.

“Atin pong paggalang sa ating darating na (Our respect to our forthcoming) Senator, Congressman Manny Pacquiao,”Mangungudatu said in his welcome speech eliciting applause from the packed CPRA hall.

The Sarangani lawmaker has committed cash prizes to the winners of the shooting competition which will also have its Luzon leg in Metro Manila (TBA) and the Mindanao leg on September 18-20. Pacquiao led his Team Pacquiao shooting team to the competition from General Santos City coached by Chingbee Aparente.

Meanwhile, 10 Visayas bands were selected to the semi-finals of the 1st Manny Pacquiao Visayas-Mindanao Battle of the Bands this coming September 5 in General Santos City.

Seven of the bands were picked during the Cebu leg elimination last August 22 in Slabadu Cafe and Bistro in Mandaue City.

The crowd favorite in the Cebu elimination is the Dry Lung from Bacolod City who told the boisterous crowd that they came all the way from Bacolod just to participate.

Three bands were seeded automatically, Haganas of Ormoc City, Lady Suzette of Tacloban City and Speed Limit of Iloilo City. The rest of the Visayas semi-finalist were Upgrade (Mandaue City); Purple Kush (Lapu-lapu City); Greenberries (Talisay City); Leviathan (Consolacion); G4M and Fly High-Michelle, both of Cebu City. The 10 will be joined by the Mindanao qualifiers, which will be chosen from the eliminations in Davao City (being done as of press time) and Sarangani Capitol grounds on September 1.

The champion band will win P300k, 150k (1st runner-up), 100k (2nd runner-up), 50k (3rd runner-up). All non-winners will receive P20k consolation prizes on the semi-finals night in Veranza Mall Gensan to be followed by the championship battle on Sept. 6 at the City oval as part of the culmination activities of the 2015 Gensan Tuna festival.