Boxing great Manny Pacquiao Tuesday formally joined the camp of presidential candidate Manny Villar in what is being bruited as Villar's “knockout blow” to other presidential contenders. In the latest opinion poll survey, Villar is currently running second to Senator Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who has been leading the presidential race since he declared his candidacy last Sept. 9. In Pulse Asia's December 8 to 10 survey announced Monday, Aquino got the nod of 45 percent of the respondents, a 22-point lead over the second-running Villar who secured 23 percent. Villar downplayed the latest presidential survey, saying he is confident that he would eventually overtake Aquino with still five months left before the election. Villar's Nacionalista Party (NP) warmly welcomed Pacquiao, citing the boost that he could give to Villar and other NP candidates by his sheer popularity alone. Pacquiao is seeking the congressional post of Sarangani province where he faces Roy Chiongbian, a top shipping executive and brother of the current congressman of the province's lone seat in the Lower House. Chiongbian is the official candidate of the ruling Lakas-Kampi-CMD party. As Pacquiao formally took his oath as the newest member of the NP, Villar said the “people's champ” would solidify his party's platform of governance, thus boosting his chances of winning the presidency together with his running mate Senator Loren Legarda. “Every punch Manny lands against his opponents represents renewed hope for poor Filipinos. Every uppercut is a source of inspiration for those who have experienced sleeping on cardboard or selling food and water in the streets for a pittance. Because not a long time ago, Manny experienced all of these,” Villar said.
