Congressional Candidate Pacquiao Confirms Lead in Polls Surveys

Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao says he is leading in local poll surveys as congressional candidate in his district of Sarangani Philippines. The boxing champ is in the final stretch of his campaign for a seat in congress in the national elections to be held on May 10, 2010.

"Right now I'm leading in the public surveys," he said. "I'm confident that people will trust me." Pacquiao is up against Roy Chongbian a formidable opponent whose parents have ruled the province of Sarangani for decades.

Chongbian's father was a former congressman while his mother was a former Governor of the province. The family owns one of the largest shipping lines in the Philippines. Sarangani is a province of the Philippines located in the SOCCSKSARGEN region in Mindanao. Its capital is Alabel and borders South Cotabato to the north and Davao del Sur to the east.

To the south lies the Celebes Sea, while it sandwiches at the center the highly urbanized city of General Santos The province is divided into two parts, separated by the Sarangani Bay and General Santos City, and it used to be part of South Cotabato until it was made an independent province in 1992.

According to the last general elections, it has a total voting population of 222,912 voters Most of the time, Pacquiao is accompanied by his wife Jinkee who is now a certified crowd drawer having been transformed into a celebrity status being the wife of the richest sportsman in the country and one of the world's richest and influential people.

Jinkee confirmed earlier that they are indeed ahead in poll surveys against the young Chongbian. Pacquiao who was abandoned by his father when he was about six years old says he wants to change politics in his country.

Pacquiao says his lack of experience in public office will work to his advantage in a nation where violence and graft has earned it a reputation for being ruled with "guns, goons and gold". "Right now it's getting worse you know, (the) corruption," he said. "If you think politics is dirty, I think we can change that."

Manny Pacquiao is set to face the winner of the Mayweather-Mosley fight scheduled for May 1 but because of a possible rematch restriction in their fight contract, the Filipino boxing sensation may go up against other opponents.

Among others, Haitian-American welterweight Andre Berto is one of his possible opponents along with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, Antonio Margarito and Erik Morales.

(original article appeared @ Digital Journal )