GENERAL SANTOS, Philippines – The regional party People’s Champ Movement (PCM) will field one of the children of Filipino boxing icon and former senator Manny Pacquiao as a candidate for a seat in the General Santos City council, a city hall official confirmed.
Michael Stephen Pacquiao will try his luck in politics by joining the slate of his aunt, reelectionist Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao, City Administrator Franklin Gacal announced on Tuesday, October 1.
Lorelie, currently serving her first term as mayor, will seek reelection together with a PCM group of candidates for congressman, vice mayor, and councilors. She is the wife of Manny’s brother Alberto. The regional party was founded by the eight-division boxing world champion.
Lorelie’s reelection bid is expected to be challenged by former General Santos Mayor Ronnel Rivera. He announced on Monday, September 30, that he and his team would file their certificates of candidacy on October 7.
“The young Pacquiao will be among PCM candidates filing their certificates of candidacy on Saturday, October 5,” Gacal said.
Gacal, who once served as Manny Pacquiao’s lawyer, will also be a PCM candidate for a city council seat.
Michael Stephen, 22, the second eldest of Pacquiao’s five children, is known for his interest in rap music and is expected to attract the youth vote for PCM. Gacal said the younger Pacquiao would bring the voice of the youth to the city council, alongside the Sangguniang Kabataan Federation president.
Manny Pacquiao has three sons and two daughters with wife Jinkee: Emmanuel Jr., Michael Stephen, Mary Divine Grace, Queen Elizabeth, and Israel.
The boxing icon, who lost in the 2022 presidential election, has been included on the administration’s senatorial ticket for the 2025 midterm elections.
If Michael Stephen wins, he will join other Pacquiao relatives and associates who hold various government positions.
Among them are Pacquiao’s brothers, Sarangani Governor Rogelio Pacquiao and General Santos Councilor Alberto Pacquiao, sister-in-law Lorelie, General Santos mayor.
Cousins Zyrex Pacquiao, the mayor of Maasim, Sarangani, and Mark Joseph Pacquiao, a member of the Sarangani legislative board and president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, also hold office.
Rogelio, Lorelie, Zyrex, and Manny’s brother-in-law Russel Jamora (Jinkee’s brother), who won a seat on Sarangani’s provincial board in the 2022 local elections, all plan to seek reelection in 2025.
Rogelio, Lorelie, and Jamora are in their first terms, while Zyrex will be running for his third and final term. As of Wednesday, October 2, none have filed their certificates of candidacy. – Rappler.com
