GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Ruel Pacquiao, the younger brother of Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, overcame a serious hurdle in his congressional run as a possible replacement for the boxing champ.
On Monday, the Election Registration Board of Alabel, Sarangai approved his application for transfer of voter’s record to the said town from this city, where he serves as chair of Barangay Apopong.
READ: Pacquiao brod Ruel not yet out of Congress race – poll official
Ruel is also ex-officio member of the city council as he heads the General Santos Association of Barangay Captains (ABC).
Helen Ysah Paidumama, acting election officer of Sarangani, said Ruel, whose real name was Rogelio, was among 271 applicants approved for transfer of voter registration from various areas.
She said Ruel filed his application for transfer from Apopong here to Barangay Poblacion in Alabel on September 18.
Paidumama said they immediately posted bulletins on the applications for transfer for possible opposition.
Because Ruel filed a certificate of candidacy for the lone congressional district of Sarangani, major political parties in the province were also furnished notices about his application for transfer.
Paidumama said up to hearing date on Monday, no one had contested Ruel’s application for transfer.
“No one has petitioned for exclusion so his application for transfer was among the 271 approved in Monday’s hearing,” Paidumama added.
She said that the ERB based its decision solely on supporting documents submitted by Ruel and his petition, which he signed as “true and correct.”
As to the question of Ruel’s continued function as village chief of Apopong here, Paidumama said it was not for the ERB to decide.
“It is not within our level. Our scope is only to decide on whether or not an application for transfer was valid,” she said.
Michael Mamukid, Sarangani election supervisor, said despite the ERB approval of Ruel’s application for transfer of voter’s records, he was not certain if there would be no more hindrance to the younger Pacquiao’s bid.
He said if he won the elections, Ruel was still vulnerable to election protest.
Ruel will be facing three lesser known candidates in the Sarangani congressional race.
They are Elson Formoso, a member of the Sarangani provincial security; Victor Mejia of the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, who garnered only one vote in the 2010 mayoralty election in Malapatan, Sarangani; and Megie Orig. Reports from Aquiles Zonio and Allan Nawal, Inquirer Mindanao/CDG