Manny Pacquiao, Assistant to Justice Secretary

World-class boxer. Singer. Political candidate. Now, special assistant to the Philippine Secretary of Justice Raul Gonzalez.

All of that is only one person. Manny Pacquiao.

Manny’s newest appointment was announced on May 8, 2009 just as he arrived from the U.S. after his successful match against Ricky Hatton. His job supposedly entails “intelligence matters", coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation, and whatever functions that the secretary assigns to him.

I’m a Pacquiao fan and all that. But I’m scratching my head over the reasons for this appointment, even if it’s unpaid. What possible benefit could there be for Pacquiao to acquire this new position? Though Gonzales called Pacquiao a “useful unifier of the nation”, he is already that without being attached to any department, politician or political party. By virtue of who he is and what he does, Pacquiao has already unified the country in ways that no politician has ever done.

If I were Pacquiao, I would be very wary of the language used by Gonzales.

“He [Pacquiao] is a useful unifier of the nation. He has a lot of following in Visayas and Mindanao. He is respected even by the Muslims. He could lend his name and prestige [to the Department]," Gonzalez said.

Without a clear cut mandate and job description, he might end up simply being a poster boy for whatever end the politicos dream up, whether he agrees with that end or not.

My advice to Manny: Continue to do what you’re doing for the Philippines and for Filipinos in the arena that you know best. Be watchful against those who just want to use you, but who do not have the same desire to honor our country like you do.

via GMANews