Pacquiao bats for UNA

Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines – One of boxing’s biggest attractions may have been knocked out cold in his last fight, but senatorial candidates of the United Nationalist Alliance are still banking on Representative Manny Pacquiao to lead them to victory against the administration ticket in Mindanao.

On Saturday, Pacquiao assured UNA candidates that he would be in their corner when they go up against President Benigno Aquino III’s senatorial bets on May 13.

“I know these candidates. Their heart is for the poor. They understand what the poor need,” he said in Filipino at a packed press conference at a seaside resort here.

But Pacquiao said he would also support two administration candidates, including the President’s cousin Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV.  He did not say who the second candidate was. Another candidate he is supporting is  Brother Eddie Villanueva because “he has a fear of God and he is a man of God.”

“I will support him because he is a friend,” Pacquiao told reporters, referring to Bam Aquino.

Pacquiao said he would also campaign nationwide for UNA and even join their sorties outside of his home province, his schedule permitting. He was to lead the UNA rally here Saturday night.

Before the actual senatorial bout in May, UNA candidates began jabbing at the President over Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram’s bloody debacle in Sabah. Ex-Senator Richard Gordon described the government’s handling of the situation as “totally ineffective, practically amateurish.”

“It’s been a comedy of errors from the start,” he said.

Aquino suffered a more severe beating from UNA over the power problem in the region. Gordon and six of his fellow candidates were repeatedly asked about short-term and long-term solutions to what has become rotating brownouts of 8 to 12 hours.

“I find it uncomfortable that you’re asking the opposition about what we will do,” Gordon replied during the press briefing where power had to be supplied by an emergency generator at one point.

“This is again indicative of the three years that the administration has been there yet nothing has happened,” he said.

Gordon then declared: “That’s why the opposition will win— I’m sure we will win here in Mindanao— because there are many issues that are not being handled.”

Representative Mitos Magsaysay added: “Definitely, PNoy [Aquino’s monicker] and the administration sat on this issue.”

Senator Gregorio “Gringo” Honasan outlined solutions available in the Energy and Power Industry Reform Act, but which were purportedly not being utilized by the administration.