Boxing great Manny Pacquiao was
proclaimed Thursday as a winner of a Philippine Senate seat, bringing him
closer to a possible crack at the presidency.
At the proclamation ceremony, an elections commissioner
introduced Pacquiao as the "people's champion" and called out his
name in the same slow style that he is introduced in the boxing ring, drawing
cheers from the audience.
The Filipino slugger garnered more than 16 million votes,
landing seventh among 12 new members of the Senate, a traditional springboard
to the presidency. Earlier this year, Pacquiao said he planned to retire from
boxing to become a full-time politician.
Asked if his next target is the presidency, Pacquiao smiled then
said, "Nothing, nothing, nothing," as he moved into his black
Cadillac SUV after his proclamation.
Considered a hero in the country, which grinds to a halt during
his televised fights to watch him box, Pacquiao has indicated in the past that
he would consider a run for the presidency. But he has often tried to ditch the
topic, saying he was too young.
The Philippine constitution requires presidential candidates to
be at least 40 years old. The 37-year-old boxer would be eligible to run in the
next presidential election in 2022.
Pacquiao's Senate victory is the latest chapter in his stunning
rags-to-riches story. He came from an impoverished rural family and had worked
odd jobs before lacing up the gloves at the age of 12. He rose steadily and
became a champion in eight boxing divisions to become one of the world's most
celebrated and wealthiest athletes.
He has represented southern Sarangani province in the House of
Representatives since May 2010, though he has been criticized for seldom
showing up for legislative duties due to his preoccupation with boxing and is
still regarded a political lightweight.
Pacquiao told reporters he was
still thinking about whether to participate in the Olympics in August because
he might be criticized again for being absent from the Senate.
"I need to ask if the Filipino people will allow me to
participate in the Olympics," he said.
Pacquiao said he would support the proposal by crime-busting
president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to reimpose the death penalty. That comment
from the newly religious Pacquiao differs from the opposition of the country's
dominant Roman Catholic church. He added he would oppose any proposed divorce
bill.
In a populist stance, Pacquiao said the first bill he would file
would grant free elementary-to-college education for children from poor
families, a proposal that has not been realized in the past due to the
extensive costs it would entail. More than one-fourth of the more than 100
million Filipinos are considered poor.
Pacquiao ran for the Senate under the ticket of losing
presidential candidate Jejomar Binay but also was endorsed by Duterte.
During his senatorial campaign, Pacquiao bounced back
impressively after a huge drop in support from his remarks in February that
people in same-sex relations are "worse than animals." He apologized
to people hurt by his comments but made clear he opposed same-sex marriage.
President Benigno Aquino III revealed in April that the brutal
Abu Sayyaf militant group considered abducting Pacquiao, along with the
president's sister, who is a wealthy and popular actress. Despite the warning,
Pacquiao continued to openly campaign in the south region where the militants
are based.
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