Mom to Manny: Don’t enter politics

GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The political arena is not the place for boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, according to the people nearest and dearest to him.

"Manny, dong, don’t enter politics," were the words uttered in Visayan by Pacquiao’s mother, Dionisia, in response to reporters’ questions about rumors that her son may run for either the presidency or a seat in the Senate.

Dionisia said she has been discouraging her son from entering the political arena because she believes that politics is a dirty game that might affect his boxing profession and his private life.

"I am vehemently opposed to Manny entering the world of politics — even in his previous victories, where some political groups were persuading him to run for mayor in Kiamba, Sarangani, even in General Santos and, just lately, for vice mayor in Manila," she said.

After knocking down Mexican boxer Erik "El Terrible" Morales Sunday in their "grand finale" match, Pacquiao was being pushed by some political groups to run for president.

Pacquiao’s elder sister, Liza, advised him to focus on his businesses and his family, particularly his children.

Newsman and assistant coach of Pacquiao’s team in the Mindanao-Visayas Basketball Association (MVBA) Pacman Warriors, Romy Neri also said he opposed the proposal that Pacquiao join politics: "Manny does not belong to (the) politicians, he is a sportsman. So he should focus on sports development.

"He should remain as an idol of millions of youth in the country… and continue to fight against drugs," Neri said.

Pacquiao’s close-in security, former Army sergeant Haris Pitogo, said politicians are trying to ride on Pacquiao’s success: "(Gusto nilang) makisakay sa kasikatan ni Manny at manalo sa eleksyon (They want to ride on Manny’s fame to win in the elections)."

However, if Pacquiao decides to join the political arena, Pitogo said, "ma’am Jinkee should be the first to be consulted, since we believe that his wife doesn’t really like politics."

When asked what balato (present) she would ask of her son from his recent take for winning the fight, Dionisia said: "Dong paliti na pud ko unta ug sakyanan nga Pajero (Dong, please buy me a Pajero of my own)."