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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Athletes, sportsmen post mixed results in midterm elections

Athletes, sportsmen post mixed results in midterm elections

Published May 13, 2025 01:43 pm

At A Glance

  • Former athletes and sportsmen who found their way into politics got mixed results in the 2025 Philippine midterm elections.

Former athletes and sportsmen who found their way into politics got mixed results in the 2025 Philippine midterm elections.

Boxing legend and soon-to-be Hall of Famer Manny Pacquiao found himself outside the Top 12 that will earn seats in the Senate following the unofficial tally of the 80 percent of election returns as of 12 noon on Tuesday, May 13.

Pacquiao, an eight-division champion, is at 18th place with 8,405,596 votes -- trailing current 12th-running Imee Marcos by a little more than 2 million votes.

Former national bowler Tito Sotto, in contrast, appeared strong at 8th place with 11,930, 352 million votes, with former volleyball player Pia Cayetano just trailing at 9th with 11,711,494 votes.

Elsewhere, former Gintong Alay director Michael Keon is trailing James Bryan Alcid by 2,000 votes in a tight race for the mayoral post for Laoag City, while former national boxing association president Manny Lopez is at far third for the congressional seat in the First District of Manila.

Former La Salle player Francis Zamora, meanwhile, wins his third term as San Juan City mayor against PBA Hall of Famer Philip Cezar. Former PBA and national team player James Yap and Renren Ritualo are at second and seventh places in the race for Councilors for the First District of San Juan City, while another former PH basketball team member Don Allado is also at sixth in the Second District of San Juan City.

Dodot Jaworski, another former basketball player, for his part, has been proclaimed Vice Mayor of Pasig City via landslide victory, while Olympian taekwondo jin Monsour Del Rosario lost his bid for Makati City Vice Mayor.

Actor-sportsman Richard Gomez is poised to win as Congressman in the Fourth District of Leyte, while another former PBA player Dondon Hontiveros trails in the race for the Vice Mayoral seat in Cebu City.

Former basketball player Vergel Meneses is also poised for another term as Bulacan Mayor, but former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain was unsuccessful in his bid as Congressman in the First District of Batangas.

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