Manny Pacquiao had no business being in the boxing ring the other day. It wasn’t because he no longer had the speed, the skill, or the stamina to rank among the best in the welterweight class; his advancing age notwithstanding, he proved in his bout against decidedly overmatched Adrian Broner that he deserved to retain his secondary title. Rather, it was because he had a day job, and it should have required him to be some 12,000 kilometers from the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Indeed, Pacquiao is a sitting senator of the Philippines, and with Congress in session, he needs to tend to the responsibilities 16 million voters in the 2016 elections looked to him to fulfill. It’s bad enough that he seems to have forgotten his campaign promise; when he ran for the position, he pledged to retire from organized pugilism and concentrate on being a lawmaker. Almost immediately after being elected, however, he amended his promise to say he would fight only when the Senate is in recess. In any case, it’s telling that he has already had four bouts while managing to shepherd only one bill he solely sponsored into law. Parenthetically, he is last among peers not named Leila De Lima (who is in detention and therefore cannot attend sessions) in attendance.
Following the convincing victory, Pacquiao wasted no time looking forward to his next contest. And, in this regard, he has not coincidentally set his sights on a rematch versus the retired Floyd Mayweather, with whom Haymon continues to have a working relationship. In his post-fight interviews, he likewise mentioned in passing that he has no plans to run for president, and that “I’m happy serving the people as a senator.” There’s just one problem, though: He isn’t. And for as long as he continues to make boxing his priority, he won’t be.
Considering how easily Pacquiao is able to set aside the work for which he earns taxpayers’ money, it’s fair to wonder if he’ll be any good at it anytime soon. And while he’s bent on keeping at something else he still excels in, the answer is clear: It will be fruitless for the citizenry to hope. He’s an outstanding sportsman, but a poor public servant. Forget about his statements, which he honors in the breach. He will aspire for higher elective posts — and win. Which means that, in the here and now and the there and then, everybody else loses.
Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994.
