Thursday, August 19, 2021

Panira sa political image! Pimentel boys to bar Chavit from ringside during Pacquiao-Ugás fight – sources

A prominent politiko who has been a usual part of Senator Manny Pacquiao’s entourage during his previous bouts will not be seen around the squared circle when the boxing champ makes his ring return this coming Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Politiko learned from multiple sources that former Ilocos Sur governor and current Narvacan town Mayor Luis “Chavit” Singson has been barred by Pacquiao’s political advisers to escort him in the boxing for his upcoming fight with current WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugás.

The reason? The General Santos City-native’s close advisers are reportedly worried that Singson’s mere presence in the boxing ring before and right after the bout could deeply hurt Pacquiao’s political image, considering that the boxing champ is badly trailing in various political surveys against other potential candidates in next year’s presidential polls.

Pacquiao is currently ranked fifth in the recent Pulse Asia survey with only eight percent of the voters preferred him as the country’s next president, and 20 points behind the current frontrunner, presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte.

The senator’s political team is hoping that Pacquiao could regain and improve his political popularity if he can secure a decisive victory this Sunday against Ugás who is currently on a 12-fight winning streak in the squared circle.

One of the sources from Team Pacquiao said it was Senator Koko Pimentel’s deputy chief-of-staff, Ronwald Munsayac, political/media consultant Bernard Rubio Peralta, and as well as the senator’s personal aide, David Sisson are ones who advised Pacquiao not to include Singson in his current entourage roster for his comeback fight against his Cuban foe.

Munsayac, who was earlier deployed by Pimentel to Pacquiao’s camp to act as a political strategist and Peralta are the ones who are handling the political and communications team of the only eight-division boxing champ for his upcoming presidential bid next year.

Singson, who has been always present in Pacquiao’s pre-fight and post-fight events during his past bouts, was nowhere to be found during the final media conference of the Pacquiao-Ugás fight card last Thursday which was held at the T-Mobile Arena.

Another source bared that Singson’s private Cessna jet arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Wednesday. It is still not clear on whether or not Singson is on board the flight.

The former Ilocos Sur governor heads the influential League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) which could play a vital role in next year’s national elections.

Pacquiao and Singson recently had a recent fallout after the boxing champ previously supported legislation that seeks to increase the tobacco excise tax. Singson said he was against that measure since it could badly affect the small tobacco farmers in the Ilocos Region.

Singson stressed that he still supports Pacquiao when it comes to boxing matters, but the senator’s political career is another story and advised him to study first before engaging in any issues.