Michael Pacquiao. —Contributed photo
GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines — The second son of boxing icon and former Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Michael, is joining the political fray.
Michael Stephen, 22, was included in the final lineup for the 12 city council seats here of the People’s Champ Movement (PCM), the political party founded by his father.
Mayor Lorelie Pacquiao, who will seek a second term in next year’s elections, confirmed the inclusion of Michael, his nephew, in their slate. She said Michael would join them in filing their certificates of candidacy (COC) on Oct. 5.
READ: Bets have until Oct. 8 to file COCs
Michael, who finished high school at Brent International School in 2020 and has since pursued a career in music, replaced former Councilor Shandee Llido in the lineup. Llido will instead return to her previous post as city administrator.
Article continues after this advertisement
Lorelie, the wife of Manny’s younger brother Alberto, said the move fixed a major challenge for their slate, which originally had two Llidos running for city councilor.
Article continues after this advertisement
Voters, she said, will no longer be confused as only incumbent Councilor Virginia Llido will remain as their official candidate.
Outgoing city administrator and former Councilor Franklin Gacal Jr., who is eyeing a return to the city council, said Michael would bring the “voice of the youth” to the local legislative body.
PCM, which forged an alliance last week with the ruling Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP), will field outgoing Councilor Jose Orlando Acharon as Lorelie’s running mate.
Manny is eyeing a return to the Senate in the May 2025 local and national midterm elections under a multiparty alliance led by PFP, which is chaired by President Marcos.
Young Dutertes
In Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte III, grandson and namesake of former President Rodrigo Duterte, is seeking a seat in the city council representing the third local legislative district.
Rigo, as he is more known, filed his COC on Wednesday, accompanied by his father, Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, and older brother, Buhangin village chief Omar Duterte.
The younger Duterte is running under the Hugpong ng Pagbabago-Hugpong sa Tawong Lungsod alliance.
In Zamboanga del Norte, the children of former Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Romeo Jalosjos Jr., Sushmita and Seth Frederick, were early birds in filing their respective COCs on Tuesday.
Seth Frederick, incumbent mayor of Dapitan City, is seeking the gubernatorial seat while Sushmita seeks to replace him as mayor.
Reelection for Speaker
In Tacloban City, Speaker Martin Romualdez, his son and his nephew filed their COCs for different positions in Leyte.
Romualdez is seeking his third and final term as representative of the first congressional district of Leyte.
Before filing his own COC, Romualdez accompanied his son, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez Jr., who filed his candidacy for a seat in the Tacloban City council. It is his son’s first time to seek public office.
The father and son are not the only members of the Romualdez family running in next year’s polls.
Raymund Romualdez, chair of Barangay 88 in San Jose District in Tacloban, filed his COC for vice mayor. Raymund is the son of incumbent Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, a first cousin of Speaker Romualdez and President Marcos. Alfred is expected to seek reelection.
During the COC filing, the Speaker was accompanied by Leyte Gov. Carlos Jericho Petilla and several mayors, led by the governor’s mother, Palo Mayor Remedios Petilla, president of the League of Municipalities in the province.
The Petillas and the Romualdezes used to be political rivals.
“I am grateful for the presence and support of our governor, vice governor, mayors and Tacloban city officials,” Romualdez said in a brief ambush interview.
Governor Petilla stressed Romualdez’s significant contributions to Leyte, particularly in infrastructure projects and other forms of assistance.
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.
“The Speaker is from Leyte, and he has done a lot for us. Infrastructure projects are happening left and right across all districts of the province. Why would we go against him?” he said. —with reports from Joselle Badilla, Ryan Rosauro, and Joey Gabieta
