Manny Pacquiao returns to Philippines politics as boxing great takes on anti-poverty role

Manny Pacquiao, the renowned boxing champion, has returned to politics in the Philippines, having been appointed head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). At 47 years old, Pacquiao, who is the only eight-division world champion in boxing history, joined President Ferdinand Marcos Jr's cabinet on Tuesday. He vowed to assist Filipinos in dealing with hardships that he himself has experienced.

Pacquiao was appointed as the lead convener of the NAPC, marking his first cabinet post since his political career, which included stints in Congress and the Senate. He had previously run unsuccessfully for president in 2022 and attempted to return to the Senate in 2025. As the head of the NAPC, Pacquiao will be responsible for coordinating government efforts aimed at reducing poverty.

In his own words, Pacquiao shared, "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." This personal experience of poverty has driven Pacquiao's commitment to helping others in similar circumstances. His net worth is estimated at $220 million, a testament to his successful 73-fight boxing career.

As the Marcos administration aims to reduce poverty incidence to 8-9% by 2028, Pacquiao takes on the challenge as the NAPC chief. Government data revealed that the poverty rate fell to 9.7% in 2025, affecting approximately 11.1 million Filipinos living below the poverty line. Despite retiring from boxing in 2021, Pacquiao made a brief return to the ring in July 2025, facing Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas. The bout ended in a draw.

Pacquiao remains a revered figure in the Philippines, with his matches often causing the entire nation of 119 million people to pause. He is set to return to the boxing ring in January and has been linked with a potential rematch against Floyd Mayweather. However, recent issues on Mayweather's side have resulted in the cancellation of that fight.