Pimentel comes out swinging to defend Pacquiao

Sarangani Representative Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Tuesday threw counter punches at critics who labeled boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as a political “butterfly” for joining the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Perhaps they’re just jealous” was the senator’s reply when asked about the criticisms.

Pimentel, PDP-Laban national chairman, said he himself had clarified the matter with Pacquiao before the boxing icon took his oath as a party member earlier this week.

From what he had been told, the senator said Pacquiao had never formally joined President Benigno Aquino III’s Liberal Party or former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi). Pacquiao was also never an official member of Lakas.

In the 2010 elections, Pimentel said Pacquiao’s local party, the People’s Champ Movement, merely coalesced with the Nacionalista Party of Senaroe Manuel Villar, who failed in his own presidential bid.

“So, I now challenge the critics—show proof that he ever formally joined any other political party,” Pimentel told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a phone interview. “As far as I’m concerned, he is not a political butterfly.”

Pimentel maintained that the PDP-Laban was the “first national political party” ever joined  by Pacquiao, a first-term representative of Sarangani province.

Under the party, Pacquiao is said to be planning to run for governor in the province in 2013.

Pimentel said the attacks against Pacquiao appeared to have been actually directed at the PDP-Laban, which is mobilizing for next year’s midterm elections.

“It was a PR demolition job directed against PDP-Laban,” the senator said.

The PDP-Laban earlier joined forces with former President Joseph Estrada’s Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) to form the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA). Estrada said Monday that party leaders were set to hold their first meeting on April 24.

Humanism

In General Santos City, Rosalita Nuñez, chairperson of the education committee of PDP-Laban local chapter, said Pacquiao’s entry would boost the party’s image.

Membership seminar

“The party is espousing theism, humanism and balanced ecology, among others. Manny Pacquiao is advocating the same principles so I would say he is an epitome of PDP-Laban’s way of life,” Nuñez told the Inquirer by phone.

Nuñez, however, said Pacquiao should undergo a basic membership seminar (BMS) to internalize the ideology and principles of the party.

Rogelio V. Garcia, PDP-Laban chairman for Central Mindanao, said he had no objection to Pacquiao’s decision to join the party.

However, Garcia in an e-mail to Pimentel, asked that the boxer-lawmaker be required to undergo BMS.

“The PDP-Laban national leadership consulted us regarding Pacquiao’s intention to join the party,” he said. He added that Pimentel informed him that Pacquiao would undergo a BMS sometime in June after his scheduled June 9 fight with American slugger Timothy Bradley.

Disowned

Sarangani Governor Miguel Dominguez viewed Pacquiao as a big asset for the PDP-Laban. “I am confident, however, that he will continue supporting the administration programs particularly here in Sarangani,” Dominguez said.

Estrada also disowned a statement by former Senator Ernesto Maceda, who linked the outcome of the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona with Binay’s chances in the 2016 presidential election.

“This is the Binay factor. If you’re for Binay for president for 2016, you’ll probably vote for acquittal. Why? First of all, if Corona is convicted, that strengthens Noynoy and a stronger Noynoy means stronger support for his [chosen] candidate,” Maceda said at a media forum last Saturday.

“If Corona is acquitted, in the words of [Inquirer columnist Amando] Doronila, that will be the start of the downturn of Noynoy Aquino’s popularity. He becomes ‘weaker’ and his candidate becomes weaker,” he said.

Estrada said Maceda was voicing out a personal opinion.

“He’s not speaking for the party, that’s for sure,” he told the Inquirer by phone.