DAVAO CITY, Philippines—Former senator and boxing great Manny Pacquiao faces scrutiny over both his ability to help the poor and a business conflict of interest as he heads the country’s anti-poverty body.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. swore in Pacquiao as head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) on Sept. 8.
For Mimi Doringo, secretary-general of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (KADAMAY), Pacquiao’s appointment should challenge him to prove that his experience with poverty can translate into action for poor Filipinos.
“Although we say that he came from humble beginnings, he is wealthy now,” Doringo said in Tagalog. “How can he improve the lives of the poor amid soaring prices of basic goods and wages that are not enough to live on?”
Doringo also questioned whether Pacquiao’s personal experience of poverty would necessarily translate into an understanding of the present-day struggles of poor Filipinos.
“Many of our politicians came from humble beginnings, but once in office, they were consumed by a corrupt system,” she said. “The challenge he faced in the ring is nothing compared to what he’s up against now—this time, it’s about countless lives at stake,” Doringo told Davao Today.
Doringo believes addressing poverty must begin with the basic needs that determine whether poor Filipinos can work, study, and remain healthy.
Pacquiao’s anti-insurgency stance challenged
During his 2022 presidential campaign, Pacquiao linked poverty and underdevelopment to the roots of armed conflict, saying there was a “big chance” he would have taken up arms in the mountains had he not become a boxer.
He also called for funds from the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to be redirected to genuine community development and expressed support for resuming peace talks with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).
Those positions are among the issues KADAMAY will monitor as Pacquiao joins the government he once criticized.
Doringo said Pacquiao’s appointment should be measured by whether he continues to uphold the principles he once championed.
She added that the billions of pesos allocated annually to the NTF-ELCAC should instead be redirected to basic services desperately needed by the poor. The issue remains significant for poor communities and people’s organizations facing demolition and harassment.
Scrutiny of power ventures in SOCCSKSARGEN
Pacquiao’s appointment also comes as a company he owns remains involved in a proposed deal that could reshape electricity distribution in parts of SOCCSKSARGEN.
MP Holdings Inc., which Pacquiao owns, is a partner of Enrique Razon Jr. ’s Primelectric Holdings Inc. of Ignite Power and Energy Corp. (IGNITE).
The consortium is proposing a conditional joint venture with South Cotabato II Electric Cooperative (SOCOTECO II), which serves electricity consumers in General Santos City, Sarangani and parts of South Cotabato.
Under the proposed agreement, IGNITE would acquire SOCOTECO II’s distribution assets, with 70% of the payment in cash and the remaining 30% converted into SOCOTECO II’s equity stake in a new distribution company.
IGNITE said the venture would fund a five-year modernization program aimed at improving reliability and reducing system losses.
SOCOTECO II had scheduled a four-weekend plebiscite beginning Sept. 5 for its member-consumer-owners to vote on the proposed venture, but voting was temporarily halted after a court issued a restraining order. (https://davaotoday.com/headline/court-extends-tro-on-socoteco-ii-and-ignite-power-plebiscite-for-20-days/)
Bantay Kuryente Consumer Watch, under the broad Coalition for the Protection of SOCOTECO II member-consumer-owners, has raised concerns over the joint venture agreement (JVA), including the proxy voting, alleged lack of competitive bidding for IGNITE, and alleged irregularities surrounding SOCOTECO II’s annual general assembly.
The group alleged that local officials and employees actively campaigned for the proposed agreement and that some voters were offered cash, rice, or promises of future assistance in exchange for supporting it.
For Bantay Kuryente convener Edmundo Cejar, Pacquiao’s NAPC appointment changes the political context of the proposed venture.
“Manny Pacquiao has been very, very active in campaigning and giving away money. It’s not only campaigning, but also giving away money, giving away rice to the MCOs and encouraging them to support the JVA.”
He also cited Pacquiao’s political influence in the area, including relationships with local officials, as having helped give the proposal political support.
Divest from IGNITE
Cejar said Pacquiao, having assumed a Cabinet-level government position, can no longer actively promote the venture and should divest from IGNITE.
“He has no choice now but to divest from it because that’s what the law requires,” Cejar said.
Republic Act No. 6713, or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, requires public officials to avoid conflicts of interest and provides for divestment when a conflict arises.
Administrative Order No. 1, issued in 1992, also restricts the participation of Cabinet officials in private businesses and provides for divestment in cases of conflicting interests.
Republic Act No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, prohibits a public officer from having a direct or indirect financial or pecuniary interest in any business, contract or transaction in which the officer intervenes or takes part in their official capacity.
Cejar said the group would pursue legal action if Pacquiao continued to support the venture in a manner the group considers prohibited.
He said Pacquiao should maintain “a shoulder-length distance” from IGNITE now that he holds public office.
Doringo said the SOCOTECO II issue is also connected to the broader question of whether government services remain public services or become opportunities for private profit
.“They should just earn what is fair—this shouldn’t be a way to profit off the poor, or for them to use their positions for their own businesses. Because if that’s what will happen, then they shouldn’t be in that position,” Doringo said.
A test of Pacquiao’s anti-poverty mandate
Doringo looks forward to seeing Pacquiao visit poor communities, particularly those affected by disasters, demolitions and inadequate basic services.
NAPC officials, she said, should visit communities rather than rely solely on reports from government offices.
She urged Pacquiao to prioritize support for farmers, living wages for workers and basic services for poor households.
Doringo said KADAMAY has requested a dialogue with Pacquiao and will continue to speak out if it sees discrimination or failures under his leadership.
NAPC is the government’s coordinating and advisory body for poverty reduction and social reform, with a mandate to promote the participation of basic sectors in government policy and programs.
Under Republic Act No. 8425, the council is also mandated to formulate the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda. (davaotoday.com)
