Manny Pacquiao back to government service. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. nominated him as the new head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) with cabinet secretary level.
“Pacquiao, 47, will take his oath before Marcos at Malacañang on Tuesday. “ Expected to attend are First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos. He succeeds Lope Santos III, who served as head of NAPC since 2023.
Republic Act No. 8425 formed NAPC. It is responsible for coordinating poverty reduction programs carried out by national and local governments and for ensuring that poor and marginalized communities have a role in government decisions. Marcos will be the commission’s chairman while Pacquiao would manage its secretariat as principal convenor.
This appointment is according to Executive Order No. 123 transferring the control of NAPC and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) from the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) to the Office of the President.
Pacquiao’s new post is not linked to that of Secretary Larry Gadon, who is Marcos’ presidential adviser on poverty reduction.
Pacquiao is regarded as one of the best fighters of all time. He is the first fighter to have secured world titles in eight different weight classes, amassing a total of twelve major titles. He was enshrined in the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2025.
He served 12 years in Congress – first as Sarangani representative from 2010-2016 and then as senator from 2016-2022.
Pacquiao stood for president in 2022 but was defeated by Marcos. He announced he was retiring from boxing the same year.
He stood for senator in 2025 under the Marcos’ Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas party but was not successful, placing 18th out of 12 available seats. He earned more than 10.3m votes.
Come July 2025 Pacquiao claimed he was leaving politics to return to boxing. But now, only months later, he is back in office, this time to head the country’s antipoverty initiatives.
