Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, a senatorial candidate, has come as the latest target of disqualification in a petition filed by a concerned Filipino before the Commission on Elections.
In a two-page petition, Ferdinand Sevilla asked the poll body to disqualify Pacquiao and declare him a nuisance candidate citing the boxing icon’s “pattern of absenteeism” at the House of Representatives.
“That respondent Pacquiao, who has not retired from professional boxing, cannot guarantee he will avoid absenteeism and will conscientiously attend to his mandated task of legislating if elected to the Upper Chamber of Congress,” the petition said.
“That Pacquiao’s filing of CoC for senator in the upcoming national elections, therefore, comprises a sheer and shameless mockery of the election process,” the petition stated.
Sevilla pointed out how Pacquiao, in 2013, incurred 60 absences out of 168 session days.
Worse, Sevilla said that in the 70 session days in 2014, the playing coach of PBA team Mahindra Enforcers, was only present in seven days.
“While Pacquiao was consistently absent to train for his boxing bout, shoot his television programs, or shoot hoops in basketball games, he was denying his constituents representation,” Sevilla said.
The boxing icon filed his Certificate of Candidacy to run for senator in the May 2016 polls under the United Nationalist Alliance of Vice President Jejomar Binay.
At press time, the Office of the Clerk of the Commission has yet to docket the petition due to the failure of Sevilla to pay the filing fee of P10,100.
Based on Comelec Resolution No. 9523, no petition shall be docketed unless the requirements have been complied with.