Just posted on the UG (MMA forum):
Has the People’s Champ turned into a chump?
Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, once regarded as the world’s best pound-for-pound boxer, is facing charges of vote buying and serious physical injuries for mauling a barangay chairman who tried to stop him from distributing rice and cash to voters in General Santos City late Saturday night.
Pacquiao is seeking reelection as representative of the lone district of Sarangani province.
Alfredo Belgica, the barangay chairman of San Jose, was beaten almost to a pulp by Pacquiao and his bodyguards at 11 p.m. on Saturday. Belgica claimed that Pacquiao and his bodyguards ganged up on him when he confronted them for going house-to-house and distributing cash and goods to families in the barangay. The lawmaker and his group arrived in the barangay in a five-car convoy. Part of the convoy was a truck loaded with rice and various goods Pacquiao and his men gave out to families in the community.
During the melee, Pacquiao and his bodyguards were arrested by police authorities and brought to the General Santos City police command based at Camp Fermin Lira Jr. for investigation. However, Pacquiao’s lawyer, Geng Gacal, arrived at the police station and managed to squirrel him out of the camp before he could issue any statement. Gacal is running for councilor in General Santos City under the Peoples Champ Movement (PCM)-United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).
Belgica, a member of the Achievement with Integrity Movement (AIM), a group affiliated with the Liberal Party (LP), said he was punched by Pacquiao and his bodyguards when he threatened to file charges against the lawmaker for buying votes. Although General Santos City is not part of Pacquiao’s constituency, witnesses said the lawmaker was in the city to campaign for his friend, councilor Ronnel Rivera, who is running for mayor against incumbent city mayor Darlene Antonio-Custodio. A witness said Rivera was with Pacquiao’s group when the mauling incident occurred.
Belgica, a supporter of Custodio, said he will not be dissuaded from filing charges against the Sarangani lawmaker. He said police authorities should not have allowed Pacquiao to leave the police station without first undergoing interrogation.
“Magsasampa ako ng kaso laban kay Congressman Pacquiao dahil sa ginawa nyang pambubugbog sa akin kasama ang kanyang mga bodyguards,” he told The Manila Times during his physical examination by policemen at the PNP laboratory in Camp Fermin Lira Jr.
Belgica suffered from contusions and bruises in the face and various parts of the body. He could barely speak when interviewed at the police camp. He was physically examined in the presence of Lulu Casabuena, the president of the Association of Barangay Captains.
Pacquiao and his PCM party had been accused of vote buying when he first ran for Congress.
On Friday, supporters of Pacquiao were also arrested for removing and tearing up campaign posters of AIM candidates but the lawmaker immediately bailed them out.
The boxing champ is not the only one in the family seeking an electoral post. His wife Jinkee is running for vice governor of Sarangani. She is the running-mate of incumbent Vice Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon. Pacquiao’s youngest sibling, Rogelio, is also seeking a seat the House of Representatives. Pacquiao’s PCM party and UNA fielded Rogelio as their congressional candidate for the first district of South Cotabato.
http://manilatimes.net/index/index.php/news/top-stories/47410-pacquiao-mauls-barangay-captain
I hope Pacquiao sticks to in ring action and stays out of trouble. He's a good fighter and I want to see him do well after boxing. Someone should talk some sense into him. Also, stay out of politics!!!
I like how everyone becomes an expect in Filipino politics as soon as a Manny thread comes up. You're an idiot if you think stuff like this wasn't going on.
Dirty stuff happens everywhere. Imagine all the stuff happening behind closed doors in the US politics where money is involved... I dread to think.
Please, as Pacman fans, can we defend only his ring achievements and not his dirty political doings? Yes, it's true that he gave cash or whatever before he became a politician. But doing it during election is a big NO. Most of them buy votes but it doesn't mean it's correct.
Wake up to reality dude. You will never win in Philippines politics by playing a saint. Pac was giving rice since day 1 from his own money. His opponents were using people/government money to buy peoples vote many times higher than rice Pac gave to poor people. Worst if you are a weak opponent they will just assassinate you.
Please, as Pacman fans, can we defend only his ring achievements and not his dirty political doings? Yes, it's true that he gave cash or whatever before he became a politician. But doing it during election is a big NO. Most of them buy votes but it doesn't mean it's correct.
Didn't want to turn this into a Manny attack. All I was saying is he better GTFO of politics while he can. He's not really educated enough to do it. Want to help your people? Start a foundation for EDUCATION and have someone who can actually do it manage it effectively.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Manny-Pacquiao-Scholarship-Program/147141405305576
yes. in a third world country where election officials are bribed, ballots are stuffed by both sides and politicians have political rivals assassinated..... giving 40 people food and change is a no no.
i was wrong to call you naive. i apologize. carry on.You realize you just posted a laundry list of election wrongs and none of them are good including buying votes which is the last one. Keep spinning if it makes you feel better.
If true he was buying votes no matter how much you dont want to believe it
Naive? No naive is one thing i am not, just honest. You can continue spinning however you want. If true hes buying votes whether its one person or a million its buying votes and a no no during elections.
The bold part should be all you need to know to see the difference
yes. in a third world country where election officials are bribed, ballots are stuffed by both sides and politicians have political rivals assassinated..... giving 40 people food and change is a no no.
i was wrong to call you naive. i apologize. carry on.
lmao
naive people.
u.s. politicians promise unions jobs, businessmen tax cuts, teachers increased salaries, soldiers increased military spending.....
billions worth thru budget and legislation.
it's just politics.
a guy gives 40 people a can of sardines and busfare..... he's buying votes. lol
Naive? No naive is one thing i am not, just honest. You can continue spinning however you want. If true hes buying votes whether its one person or a million its buying votes and a no no during elections.
The bold part should be all you need to know to see the difference
However you want to look at it is fine but in the end, if true, he was buying votes.
Good deed? yes, very good deed.
Right before election? its buying votes
lmao
naive people.
u.s. politicians promise unions jobs, businessmen tax cuts, teachers increased salaries, soldiers increased military spending.....
billions worth thru budget and legislation.
it's just politics.
a guy gives 40 people a can of sardines and busfare..... he's buying votes. lol
you don't buy elections by giving a couple dozen potential voters canned food and change.
you buy elections by taking care of the guys who count the votes.
However you want to look at it is fine but in the end, if true, he was buying votes.
Good deed? yes, very good deed.
Right before election? its buying votes
Its buying votes if true. So go on spinning if you want but it is what it is.
you don't buy elections by giving a couple dozen potential voters canned food and change.
you buy elections by taking care of the guys who count the votes.
it's a damn PR stunt.
like kissing babies. or telling unions we're gonna save their jobs.
Its buying votes if true. So go on spinning if you want but it is what it is.
True enough. Bags of rice don't add up to much when compared with what happens in Western elections.
it's a damn PR stunt.
like kissing babies. or telling unions we're gonna save their jobs.
Question...if obama or romney came to your neighborhood handing out food, would that change your opinion on who to vote?
I'd take the **** and still vote for obama.
Are they really going to vote aginst Pacquiao anyway? He is like superman to his country
please....
modern democracies allow companies to donate millions of dollars to politicians who legislate their industry.
but you want to talk about conflict of interest for a guy giving out can of spam and a couple bucks to a few dozen ppl.
True enough. Bags of rice don't add up to much when compared with what happens in Western elections.
Question...if obama or romney came to your neighborhood handing out food, would that change your opinion on who to vote?
didn't black ppl vote for obama because they thought he was gonna give them phones?
It doesn't really work that way though, it is an obvious conflict of interests. There is a reason almost all democracies don't allow candidates to hand out gifts around election time.
please....
modern democracies allow companies to donate millions of dollars to politicians who legislate their industry.
but you want to talk about conflict of interest for a guy giving out can of spam and a couple bucks to a few dozen ppl.