MANILA, Philippines ? Senator Richard Gordon doubted if the victory of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao over Joshua Clottey will help Nacionalista Party standard bearer Senator Manny Villar.

"Everyone knows Manny Villar paid Pacquiao to endorse him," Gordon said.

He said candidates like Villar who had to depend on celebrity endorsers to court more votes are a sign of weakness.

He said: "Hiring celebrities shows their weaknesses. They rely on celebrities and don't talk about their programs."

Gordon admits he is also a big Pacquiao follower. He canceled his scheduled campaign activities on Sunday to watch the fight. But he frowned on Pacquiao's congressional bid, saying the famous boxer would be a better executive.

Gordon said: "In Congress, he will be lost there. It is a different game. It is a wily place. It is never black and white."

Instead, Gordon said Pacquiao would make a good mayor because "he is a hands-on guy and he knows how to communicate with his people; he knows their language and he can talk with the masses."