Pacquiao, Jinkee in knockdown win in Sarangani; other sportsmen like PBA’s Guiao also proclaimed

By JO ERLINDA NEBRES

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Rep. Manny Pacquiao had a knockout win for a second term as congressman of Sarangani when no one surfaced to oppose him as he leads many sportsmen who won in the elections.
Pacquiao is set to fly to the United States next week to start promoting his comeback in the ring against Brandon Rios in Macau inNovember 24.
Another winning sportsman was PBA coach and Pampanga Vice Governor Yeng Guiao who won as congressman in the first district of Pampanga, defeated a well-entrenched political family, the Nepomucenos, in the district.
Former Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella won the mayoralty race in his home city of Bacolod.
Pacquiao’s wife Jinkee also won as Vice Governor of Sarangani.
His ally, former Councilor Ronnel Rivera,  conquered incumbent Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, the mayor who once defeated Pacquiao, in the May 13 elections. Pacquiao’s team thus beat the old dynasty in General Santos City in South Cotabao.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) proclaimed  Rivera as the new city mayor, beating veteran incumbent Darlene Antonino-Custodio.
The Antonino clan is an old political dynasty in South Cotabato.
Rivera had 93,525 votes, while Custodio, who once defeated Manny Pacquiao in the 2007 elections, got 79,083 votes..
The new city mayor, the son of a tuna fishing magnate, was described by people here as “Pacquiao’s bet”.
Pacquiao’s younger brother, Rogelio, however, lost in his congressional bid in South Cotabato.
Pacquiao’s lawyer, Frank Gacal, was also reported to have won a city council seat.
Pacquiao’s wife, Jinkee, gathered 103,438 votes at press time against her closest rival, Eleanor Saguiguit, who got 80,000 votes but had conceded defeat. 
Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines chief Abraham Tolentino won in his reelection bid for mayor in Tagaytay City..
Franz Pumaren, another PBA coach for Air 21, is assured of a seat as councilor in the third district of Quezon City while a former PBA player now making a name for himself as a sports broadcaster, Jason Webb, will keep his post as councilor in Parañaque.