Disqualification case filed vs Pacquiao’s senatorial bid

MANILA, Philippines - A petition in the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is seeking to  disqualify Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao from the senatorial race next year primarily due to his “pattern of absenteeism” at the House of Representatives. 

The boxing champion should also be declared a “nuisance” candidate as he is “non-serious and a nuisance,” according to petitioner Ferdinand Sevilla.

“That 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,” he said.

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

Out of the House’s 168 session days in 2013, Pacquiao had registered 60 absences, according to the petition filed Wednesday afternoon.

In 2014, he reported at the House for only seven days out of 70 session days, the petition added.

Pacquiao is also the playing coach of the Philippine Basketball Association team Mahindra Enforcers, the petition said.

“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,” the petition said.

As of press time, the Comelec’s Office of the Clerk of the Commission has yet to docket the petition as Sevilla has not paid the filing of P10,100.