MALUNGON, Sarangani, Philippines – Boxing champion Manny Pacquiao has taken his winning ways to politics, soundly beating political kingpin Roy Chiongbian for a seat in the House of Representatives.
Pacquiao is set to be proclaimed today.
He took the biggest chunk of votes in the seven municipalities of Sarangani, including Chiongbian’s bailiwick in Kling, Kiamba.
As of 9:30 p.m., the partial unofficial count showed Pacquiao leading with 98,951 votes against his rival’s 49,442.
“If this is boxing I would compare Chiongbian to my bigger opponents like Marco Barrera and the rest. They were the ones who created and held Sarangani since the 1990s, Pacquiao told The STAR.
Pacquiao said he will be wearing a barong tagalog in his proclamation today at the Sarangani Provincial Capitol in Alabel town.
“It was only Pacquiao who ended the 41 years of Chiongbian’s dynasty in Sarangani,” gubernatorial candidate Juan Domino said.
Incidentally, Pacquiao is throwing a grand birthday celebration for Mommy Dionisia who will be celebrating her 61st birthday on May 15. – Rose Tesoro Tamayo, Abac Cordero