Philippine boxing icon Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao said he might run for governor of South Cotabato in 2010, BusinessWorld’s Saturday edition reported.

Pacquiao visited the city on Thursday.

“Even if I lost in the last elections, the people saw how I was able to help them and bring improvements in my province using my own money. How much more if I’m in the government?” the paper quoted him as saying.

Pacquiao vowed that if elected he would run the local government honestly.

“I am now happy with the financial blessings God has given me. I have already acquired fame and fortune and almost everything I need so all I’m asking Him is to use me to help others especially those who are less fortunate because that is where I came from,” he said.

The report said Pacquiao donated P3 million for the typhoon victims in Western Visayas. He gave P1 million for Bacolod, P1.5 million for Iloilo and P500,000 for Aklan.

GMANews.TV