Manny Pacquiao Plans to Run For Ph Presidency

Boxer turned Congressman Manny Pacquiao confirmed his presidential ambition to AFP in 2013, now affirmed by promoter Bob Arum in a press release.pacquaio-CC-aquino

(Pacquiao with Pres. Aquino. Google photo)

Launching his successful political career was maybe because of his remarkable boxing feats, yet this later on succeeded to a second-term congress slot.

“Yes,” he said then, when asked if he wanted to be president. “(But) it’s far away… it’s God’s will.” Pacquiao once said.

While American promoter Arum told paparazzu website TMZ, “He is going to be a president.”

“He is going to run for the senate of the Philippines in 2016 and then 2022 or maybe later he’ll run for president.” , he added.

Being an icon who brought the country’s name into the front line, there are still critics who don’t think the boxer has what it takes to lead the Philippines.

For a record, Pacquiao has set a questionable attendance record in the congress last year thus leaving another bubble thought of his commitment to helping out his constituents.

In 2014, Pacquiao has four out of 70 session days in attendance of 2014 from the parliament attendance record.

The record also showed that the congressman authored four bills, none of which passed into law.

“That’s what you call a zero record,” Ramon Casiple, executive director of the Institute for Political and Electoral Reform, told AFP.

Pacquiao is also believed of having big-spending tactics after he was defeated by Former congresswoman Darlene Antonino-Custodio.

“Unfortunately, he is learning the bad side of politics,” Casiple said.

While Custodio believe that the boxer could be a good leader.

“I like Manny. I think he is a very sincere politician. He just needs to be careful about who he surrounds himself with,” she said.

Ateneo de Manila University political science professor Benito Lim, however, advised Pacquiao to build serious political platform if her really wanted the public to see him as a presidential potential.

“He can’t rely on just handouts if he wants to be president,” Lim said, referring to the big-spending tactics employed in the 2010 local election.

H/T: Manila Bulletin

So what do you think of Pacquiao as your next president? Let us know what’s on your mind.

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