Manny Pacquiao Plans to Run for Philippine Senate Post in 2016

Will Manny Pacquiao pack a KO punch in his Philippine Senate bid in 2016?

No longer a reigning world champion but too young to run for president, boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is setting his sights on the Senate in 2016.

Speaking before his constituents at Sarangani province’s capital of Alabel to deliver his State of the District address, Pacquiao announced he is moving to “new levels of responsibility”.

He is expected to be back in the ring early next year, allowing him a clear run at the May elections, the latest step in a well-known political career which began in February 2007.

“Yes, I’m going to run for (a) Senate post this coming 2016 election”.

He said on Monday evening that he would run for higher office in May next year, after his congress term ends. “But as to which party, that’s still to be determined”, says Manny.

However, an Inquirer report said that the Liberal Party will leave a slot open for Pacquiao in its senatorial slate should he decide to join the administration party.

His wife, Jinkee, is now vice governor of Sarangani.

He has won eight world championships in different weight divisions but lost the richest fight in boxing history in a unanimous decision to his American rival Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas in May.

As a congressman, Pacquiao was elected by the voters of his district but in the Philippines, senators are elected nationally, posing a larger challenge.

Pacquiao has already been linked with the likes of Amir Khan and Lucas Matthysse when he returns to the ring following surgery to a shoulder injury he picked up in the run-up to his Mayweather showdown.

Reactions on social media, particularly Twitter, have been mostly negative.