BALAYAN, Batangas – Former President Joseph Estrada is not at all threatened by boxing champ Manny Pacquiao’s endorsement of the candidacy of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard-bearer Manny Villar.

The Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP) standard-bearer said the boxer is not an effective political endorser. The former president cited Pacquiao’s track record of endorsing losing candidates, including the boxer himself as representative of General Santos during the 2007 elections.

“Kaibigan ko si Pacquiao ngunit sa aking pananaw ay mahal ng tao si Pacquaio as a boxer at hindi bilang political endorser. Ini-endorse niya si Ali Atienza, si  Lito Lapid, at siya, talo din siya. He's not an effective endorser,” Estrada told reporters in a briefing during a break in his campaign here.

It was recalled that Ali, the son of former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza, failed to succeed his father despite Pacquiao's support during the 2007 elections. Same thing happened with Lapid in his bid to become mayor of Makati against Jejomar Binay.

Pacquiao himself lost by a wide margin to Darlene Antonino-Custodio in their battle for the General Santos congressional post.