The grand plan

This writer received several animated messages from readers of The STAR in response to our column on Sen. Manny Pacquiao’s decision to get back into the ring. Some were questioning why, to them, it appeared this writer was defending or, at the very least, condoning his decision. A few were asking if there were any rules or laws preventing him from fighting again, and a few were vehemently against it. Overall, the tone was that the issue merits more discussion.

Firstly, as a former Senate correspondent, I understand that there are really no rules preventing an elected senator from pursuing his or her previous profession, more so if it was already in existence long before they sought public office. It is almost unheard of for a congressman or senator to drop all sources of livelihood once elected, unless it may somehow prevent the fulfillment of their duties as an elected official. In fact, it is often the reverse. If an elected official is appointed to the Cabinet, for example, he or she must leave the chamber, as when Sen. Teofisto Guingona was named vice-president.

We have had senators who still work even when physically absent due to illness or imprisonment. We have also had senators who were physically absent during crucial committee votes, so as not to incriminate a member of the same political party. Absence is also a card to be played. Some senators travel with the President, particularly when foreign investment is concerned. Some are absent from sessions when there is a calamity in their home province. There are always valid reasons to miss sessions. But as the saying goes, all excuses are equal.

It’s not so much the actual fighting that has the potential to disrupt Sen. Pacquiao’s duties in the Senate so much as the training, which takes months of singular focus. We can’t assume that he will be too tired to attend Senate sessions while he is training, but we can wonder if his mind will be on the matters being discussed. If he is given chairmanship of any committees, he has the latitude to schedule hearings at his convenience. Most of the work of legislation is research and communication with constituencies, which is not necessarily something the senator needs to be physically present to do. In other words, there is a way to get the work done even when he is not around for short periods of time.

The question is this: if Sen. Pacquiao decides to train for his next fight near the Senate, what quality of training will he have? He will be within reach of the media, fans and onlookers. He will be approached by people seeking his help. He will be sought out by hangers-on and those who want his endorsement for whatever purpose suits them. He will be an easy target for anyone wanting an interview or selling anything. It will also be a security risk. Unless he is allowed an extended leave, he will have to train within driving distance of the Senate, which is never advisable for a professional athlete of his stature.

Another potential problem will be if any of his fellow senators takes exception to prolonged absences. If that happens, it will be harder to gather votes necessary to pass his pet bills. So long as that upset remains, Pacquiao will have to work around that disgruntled colleague, which is never easy given all the back-scratching in the legislature. You spend much of your time crafting laws which you feel will help the country, only to face the possibility of being defeated on the Senate floor by another senator who has an axe to grind against you.

But let’s look at the big picture. Even before the May elections, this writer predicted that Sen. Pacquiao would fight again, at least twice more. As things stand, that prediction may even be an underestimation. Consider the plan for Pacquiao to run for president in 2022, which is an open secret of sorts. His fights are exempted from Comelec bans as being of national interest. Strategically, it would be to his advantage to keep fighting as close as possible to 2022, or find another way to keep his public awareness very high. But nothing would really compare to the buzz generated by a high-stakes prizefight.

Whatever Pacquiao decides, the general public often has a short memory about these things. People will forget about the few weeks of work that he missed at the Senate if he scores a big win in the ring. Though it sounds crass, it may appear that the Senate is a stepping stone to the highest office in the land. And there is no better way for him to stay the nation’s hero as loudly as possible than by fighting as long as possible.