Philippine boxing icon Pacquiao joins opposition party

Seven-time world boxing champion Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao, seeking a seat in the lower house of Congress in next May's elections in the Philippines, has joined the opposition party, his lawyer said on Friday.

Pacquiao, widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, took his oath as a member of the Nacionalista Party led by billionaire lawmaker Manuel "Manny" Villar late on Thursday in General Santos City, Franklin Gacal said.

"Manny decided to join Villar's camp because he was convinced the senator can help solve the country's poverty problem," Gacal said, adding the two shared the same rags-to-riches story, and have an almost identical platform on poverty alleviation.

Gacal said Pacquiao met with Villar during his 31st birthday party on Thursday in General Santos City, where the deal for the boxer's entry into Villar's party was sealed.

He said Pacquaio kept his friendship with pro-administration officials and political patrons — mining secretary Lito Atienza and Luis "Chavit" Singson, deputy national security adviser — even after he joined the opposition.

It was Pacquiao's second attempt to win a seat in Congress after he lost in 2007 to an incumbent lawmaker, Darlene Custodio, who belongs to a prominent political clan in General Santos City.

Pacquiao is facing a tough opponent supported by the three biggest political and business families in Sarangani, who also have close links to president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and the party's standard-bearer, former defence chief Gilberto Teodoro.

Analysts said Pacquiao has a better chance of winning inside a boxing ring than in a political arena, but the backing of a large political party could boost his candidacy.