MANILA -- Sarangani Rep. Erwin Chiongbian on Thursday said he is unfazed by the reported congressional bid on boxer Manny Pacquiao in the province.

Chiongbian, who is in his last term as congressman, said his brother, Roy, will be running for Congress next year.

"Why would we be afraid? Maybe if this was boxing, matatakot kami. Hindi naman boxing ito. This is politics, not boxing," he said ABS-CBN reporter RG Cruz.

The congressman said it would be ill-advised for the People's Champ to enter the world of politics especially after making his mark in the world of boxing.

"Everybody has the right to run if he feels he has the calling as far as politics is concerned. That is his own personal decision but as I was mentioning to him even before when he ran against Darlene Antonino he better stay with boxing and as we can see he's really a world boxing champion, having seven weight divisions. That's where he excels. I think he should stay that way," he said.

Chiongbian said his family has invested much in the development of the province, noting that Sarangani used to be part of South Cotabato. "This was the only district hat was left behind as far as development was concerned so my father at that time [thought] that the faster way to develop would be to separate it as an independent province called Saranggani," he said.

Chiongbian said his brother will be running under the Lakas-Kampi Christian Muslim Democrats banner. He said he is a close ally of Governor Miguel Dominguez who is the president of Lakas-Kampi CMD.