His election victory assured, Christian born-again boxer and pastor Manny Pacquiao made a sacred vow to the Filipino people on Tuesday that he "won't let them down" when he begins assuming his duty as one of the 12 newly elected senators of the Philippines.
Pacquiao thanked the more than 15 million Filipinos who voted him into office during the May 9 general election, which also resulted in the landslide victory of Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte as the new Philippine president.
Speaking to the Manila Bulletin, the 37-year-old Pacquiao said he will prove to his supporters that they made the right choice and "that their votes won't be put to waste."
Although a neophyte in the Senate, Pacquiao said his clean intentions and his intense desire to alleviate the suffering of the poor Filipinos will enable him to become an effective lawmaker.
"I didn't enter public office to enrich myself like the ones who have made politics as their main occupation," said Pacquiao, formerly the congressman from Sarangani province in Mindanao.
"The poor people and the needy are the ones I will prioritise in extending help," he said. Pacquiao has built homes for his constituents in Sarangani using his multi-billion-dollar earnings as a world boxing superstar to finance his many projects in one of the poorest regions in the Philippines.
Pacquiao said he will work for free education, improve the life of teachers and farmers and lend his expertise in sports programmes for the youth during his six-year Senate stint.
Pacquiao retired from boxing following his victory over Tim Bradley in Las Vegas last month to focus on his new role as a public servant.
However, before he completely hangs up his boxing gloves, Pacquiao could still do something to boost his country's image in sports.
Philippine boxing officials said on Wednesday they are waiting any moment for Pacquiao to decide if he wants to compete in the Rio Olympics, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
They expect Pacquiao to reply soon and send in motion that grand preparation for the Olympics where he is highly counted upon to win the Philippines' first ever gold medal.
Meantime, boxing trainer Freddie Roach said he is not ruling out a rematch between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. even though Pacquiao has purportedly retired from boxing and has won a seat in the Philippine Senate.
Mayweather, who has also retired from the sport, has been teasing the public with the possibility of returning to the ring to fight Pacquiao.
"Yes, Manny ended his career. But personally I can say that it is very difficult to finish a career in boxing, because this sport simply draws you back in. Right now he's going to take the post of senator, so I'm not sure that he would provide him with enough time to both be a senator and a boxer, but I'm happy for him whatever the outcome. We would like Manny to fight Mayweather again. If this happens, it would be great....if not, then of course nothing bad will happen," Roach said, according to Boxing Scene.
