MANILA – As the election season approaches, an athlete’s group renewed its offer to Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao to be its representative in Congress.
 
Party-list group Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) again wanted Pacquiao in its line up for the coming elections in 2010.
 
PBA executive director Joey Zarate said during a party the group organized for Pacquiao and Filipino SEAG athletes that the Filipino champ is very much welcome in their party-list group.
 
“PBA party-list is a group for and by the athletes. We want to take care of the welfare of Filipino athletes, who are sometimes hampered by lack of finances, especially when preparing for international competitions,” said Zarate.
 
The group earlier made the offer in 2007 when Pacquiao signified his intention to run for a congressional seat in the first district of South Cotabato.

Zarate said that in fact, Pacquiao is one of their founding members.
 
The boxer, however, decided to run against South Cotabato incumbent Darlene Antonino Custodio. He lost.
 
Now that Pacquiao signified his intention to again run for Congress, this time in Sarangani Province, PBA renewed its offer.
 
Some of the athletes who attended the party were pleased with the group.
 
“Sa nakita ko, mayroon silang magandang hangarin para sa mga atletang Pilipino,” said pencak silat athlete Christopher Yabut. “We hope na sana mabigyan ng magandang kinabukasan ang Philippine sports.”