Boxing Icon Manny Pacquiao Returns to Philippines Politics as Anti-Poverty Chief

Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has officially returned to politics in the Philippines following his appointment as the head of a government anti-poverty commission. The 47-year-old sports icon, who remains boxing's only eight-division world champion, joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's cabinet on Tuesday with a commitment to assist Filipinos facing hardships he knows all too well.

Mr Pacquiao assumed the role of lead convener for the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), marking his first cabinet position after a political career that previously featured service in both Congress and the Senate. His political background also includes an unsuccessful run for the presidency in 2022 and a failed attempt to return to the Senate in 2025.

In his new capacity as NAPC chief, Mr Pacquiao will oversee government initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, drawing on his own background of hardship. “I came from poverty. I experienced sleeping on cardboard on the streets, drinking only water, having nothing to eat, and saving loose coins just to help my family,” Mr Pacquiao stated.

Growing up, Mr Pacquiao fought on the streets for $2 a match while enduring homelessness and severe destitution before building a legendary 73-fight boxing career that generated an estimated net worth of $220 million. He steps into the anti-poverty leadership role as the Marcos administration targets a reduction in poverty incidence to 8-9 per cent by 2028. Official government statistics indicated the rate dropped to 9.7 per cent in 2025, representing roughly 11.1 million Filipinos living below the poverty line.

As one of the most celebrated sporting figures in the Philippines, Mr Pacquiao's major bouts historically paused the nation of 119 million people. Although he initially retired from the sport in 2021, he made a comeback to the ring in July 2025 to battle Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas, which resulted in a draw. He was additionally inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame last year. While a planned rematch against Floyd Mayweather on Netflix later this year was canceled due to complications on Mayweather's end, Mr Pacquiao is reportedly targeting January for another ring appearance and has been connected to potential talks with American WBO light-welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson.