SARANGANI — Nacionalista Party (NP) congressional bet and pound-for-pound king Manny “Pacman”Pacquiao is confident of winning in the May 10 elections.

Interviewed after a proclamation rally of NP candidates in the province last Saturday night with NP presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar Jr., Pacquiao told the media he is more prepared and confident of winning the congressional race than he was three years ago.

Pacquiao ran during the 2007 mid-year elections as representative of the first district of South Cotabato. He ran under the Lito Atienza-wing of the Liberal Party, but lost to Darlene Antonino-Custodio of the Genuine Opposition who was then seeking her third and last term.

This time, he is running under Villar's party and moved to Sarangani where he has better chances of winning.

Pacquiao is running against Roy Chongbian whose father was a former congressman while his mother was former governor of the province. The family is said to own one of the largest shipping lines in the country.

“Kumpiyansa ako na manalo (I am confident of winning) for this election. At syempre kinakampanya ko ang presidente ko (and of course I am campaigning for my president),” Pacquiao, a staunch supporter of Villar, said.

Despite facing a formidable foe, Pacquiao is confident that the people of Sarangani would vouch for him, saying he would focus on serving Sarangani than joining the boxing ring once he gets elected.

“Mas gusto ko magserbisyo sa mga tao (I prefer to serve the people),” Pacquiao said.