From L-R: Manny Pacquiao, Yeng Guiao, Mikee Romero, Vergel Meneses and Fran Pumaren were among the sportsmen who vied to get elected this year. INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS
Just as in any game, there were winners and losers among the sportsmen who were seeking for government posts in this year’s national and local elections.
Most popular among those from the sports world who ventured into politics is Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao, who is poised to win a seat in the Senate just months after his farewell fight in the ring.
Pacquiao, who previously served as the representative of the lone district of Sarangani, sits at no. 8 with 15,282,334 votes based on the latest, unofficial tally.
Businessman-sportsman Mikee Romero, owner of GlobalPort Batang Pier in the PBA, meanwhile, is expected to win a congressional spot with his partylist 1Pacman ranked third behind AkoBicol and Gabriela.
As seen in its poll ads, 1Pacman is endorsed by popular athletes and has so far raked 1,271,238 votes.
All numbers are based from the Inquirer unofficial results from the Comelec-GMA Mirror Server.
Former PBA coach Binky Favis (Parañaque – Second District), Adamson coach Franz Pumaren (Quezon City – Third District), La Salle coach Aldin Ayo (Sorsogon – West District) and recently retired PBA guard Paul Artadi (San Juan – First District) have all won city councilor seats.
But not all of these sportsmen-turned-politicians were triumphant in their campaigns.
Fiery Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao, a long time public servant, failed in his reelection bid in the first district of Pampanga after losing to Carmelo Lazatin II.
PBA legend and Jose Rizal University coach Vergel Meneses likewise fell short in nabbing the Vice Mayor seat in Bulacan, yielding to incumbent Berting Bituin.
Former pro player Mac Andaya lost in his first try in politics, falling way behind in the race for city council in Manila’s Fifth District while ex-La Salle player Francis Zamora lost the mayoralty race to Guia Gomez in a tight contest.