By Aquiles Zonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
In the boxing ring, everyone is afraid to face Manny Pacquiao.
However, in the political arena, Pacman has called on his wife Jinkee, whose parents, siblings and friends, have come in full force to campaign for the world’s only seven-division champ.
Pacquiao, 32, is running for a seat in the House of Representatives in Sarangani province, against a political giant Roy Chiongbian, son of former Rep. James Chiongbian.
Pacquiao’s family especially Jinkee, were barely visible when he first ran for office in 2007. They have been very active, visiting various parts of the province.
Jinkee says she is confident her husband can make a difference—especially in the life of poor residents.
“We talked about it and I believe in his good intentions to serve the people of Sarangani,†she says. “Manny and I can’t let our supporters down. The people need help.â€
Crowd-drawer
With only a few weeks before Election Day, Jinkee has been campaigning for her husband like a seasoned politician. She has toured the public market, shaking hands with the people and has gone on a house-to-house campaign, soliciting votes.
On Thursday, while Manny was campaigning in Glan, on the eastern part of Sarangani, Jinkee and her group went southward, visiting remote areas, including Malungon town.
There, she was met by Delia Constantino, chair of the vote-rich village of Malandag.
Constantino, mother of incumbent Malungon Mayor Bongbong Constantino, says Jinkee’s decision to join the campaign is a big boost to Manny’s candidacy.
“She’s down-to-earth and a crowd drawer like Manny Pacquiao,†she says.
“We are actually ahead in the surveys but now we really have to maximize our efforts and time,†Jinkee reveals.
Give him a chance
In a campaign stump held early this month at the plaza of Malapatan town, 10,000 people drenched by the rain waited patiently for a glimpse of their idol Pacquiao and to hear his political platform.
The billionaire candidate explained how he would bring about development to the resource-rich yet poverty-stricken province. He asked them to give him a chance to serve “even for just one term.â€
One of the world’s richest athletes, Pacquiao said it was hurting him to see politicians spending so much in the campaign, “at babawiin sa kurakot pag nanalo (only to recoup their expenses through corruption when
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