Makati man wants Pacquiao disqualified for absenteeism

Manny Pacquiao file CoC for Senator. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

A PETITION seeking the disqualification from the Senate race of Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has been filed at the Commission on Elections (Comelec), citing the boxing icon’s “pattern of absenteeism” at the House of Representatives, among other failings.

The petitioner, a certain Ferdinand Sevilla of Barangay La Paz, Makati City, asked the poll body to disqualify Pacquiao saying he was  a “nonserious and nuisance” candidate.

Pacquiao was among the buzzer beaters who filed on the last day his certificate of candidacy (COC) for senator in the 2016 elections under the United Nationalist Alliance  of Vice President Jejomar Binay.

“Respondent Pacquiao, who has not retired from professional boxing, cannot guarantee he will avoid absenteeism and will conscientiously attend to his mandated task of legislating if elected to the upper chamber of Congress,” the petition read.

“Pacquiao’s filing of COC for senator in the upcoming national elections, therefore, comprises a sheer and shameless mockery of the election process,” it said.

The petition was received by the Comelec late on Wednesday but as of press time Thursday, the Comelec had yet to docket it because of Sevilla’s failure to pay the filing fee of P10,100.

Comelec Resolution No. 9523 says no petition is to be docketed unless all requirements have been complied with.

In his petition, Sevilla cited House records showing that out of the chamber’s 70 session days from Jan. 20 to Dec. 17,  2014, Pacquiao was present for only seven days. He was the representative with the most number of absences.

In 2013, Pacquiao was absent for 60 days out of 168 session days, Sevilla added.

“While Pacquiao was consistently absent to train for his boxing bout, shoot his television programs, or shoot hoops in basketball games, he was denying his constituents representation,” he said. Tina G. Santos