Manny Pacquiao Shows Political Savvy
By Manny Piñol
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 16 Jul 2011
After only a year in politics, Manny Pacquiao has shown political astuteness by agreeing to trade places with incumbent Saranggani Governor Miguel Dominguez when the latter's term ends in 2013.
Pacquiao, 32, will thus yield the polisition of congressman for the lone district of one of the poorest provinces in the country to the equally young Dominguez who belongs to the rich Alcantara family of Davao and whose father, Paul, was once Presidential Assistant for Mindanao during the presidency of Fidel V. Ramos.
It is a clever political move for both young politicians because as partners, they will be unbeatable in the next elections in Saranggani province.
Pacquiao reportedly spent an estimated P400 million in his congressional campaign against a scion of the Chiongbian family which is a big name in the shipping industry in the Philippines.
And he could spend more than that if he will go up against the equally popular Miguel Dominguez had they decided to slug it out for congress in 2013.
The wonders of the internet have enabled readers from all over the world to see what is printed in The Manila Times, more so since this column is also being posted on boxing's most popular website, www.philboxing.com. In view of this, I will have to explain the finer points of Philippine politics.
All those elected to political positions in the Philippines, except for the President, Vice President and Senators, have a 3-year term of office. They could be re-elected to that position twice for a maximum of nine years. After that they will have to step aside.
The President, on the other hand, has a six-year term and is not qualified for reelection. Senators have 6-year terms and they only have one re-election.
In the case of Manny Pacquiao, he would still be qualified to run for his position as Congressman twice, in 2013 and then in 2016.
Dominguez, on the other hand, has nowhere to go unless he opts to run for a lower position or set his sights to a senate post which is quite a tall order for a provincial politician.
A Dominguez-Pacquiao match-up was seemingly inevitable for 2013 until both decided to team up and trade places. Both benefit politically, and financially too, from this agreement.
It could have been a bloody and very expensive encounter had it not been averted.
As things stand now, the governorship is there for the taking for Manny Pacquiao while Miguel Dominguez will certainly win the congressional position.
For Manny, the position of Governor would be a better training ground if he really desires to vie for a higher position. It is of course public knowledge that people around him have been goading him to set his sights at the presidency.
Governor Manny Pacquiao would now have a better appreciation of the problems confronting his province and its people and address the chronic poverty in his area which is now listed as among the 20 poorest provinces in the country.
It will be a good testing ground for his leadership and administrative skills because these are the most important qualifications of a good president.
And it is just timely. By the end of his second term as governor in 2012, Manny Pacquiao will already be 44, four years past the age requirement for a presidential candidate.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Manny Piñol.
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