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Marcos appoints Manny Pacquiao as anti-poverty chief
PH🏛️ PoliticsCenter9/8/2026

Marcos appoints Manny Pacquiao as anti-poverty chief

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as the lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), a position with the rank of Cabinet secretary. The appointment took place during a ceremony at Malacañang, where Pacquiao will replace Lope Santos III, who previously held the role since 2023. This move follows Executive Order No. 123, which transferred oversight of the NAPC and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the Office of the President. Pacquiao, known for his career in boxing and previous political involvement, including running for president in 2022 and serving as a senator until 2022, now takes on a new role focused on poverty alleviation. His recent announcement of retiring from politics and returning to boxing was made in July 2025.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former boxing great Manny Pacquiao as lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), effective September 8, 2026. Pacquiao, 47, will take his oath at Malacañang, the presidential palace, with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and Cabinet Secretary Benhur Abalos expected to attend. His appointment marks a return to public service for the legendary boxer, who previously held political office and ran for president in 2022. Pacquiao replaces Lope Santos III, who led the NAPC since 2023. The position, which carries the rank of Cabinet secretary, involves coordinating poverty reduction initiatives across national and local levels and ensuring marginalized groups are included in policy decisions. The role was established under Republic Act No. 8425, which mandates the commission to oversee anti-poverty programs. Marcos transferred oversight of the NAPC and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) from the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) to the Office of the President via Executive Order No. 123. This move centralizes poverty-related policies under direct presidential authority. Pacquiao’s appointment differs from that of Secretary Larry Gadon, who advises Marcos on poverty alleviation. A global icon in boxing, Pacquiao is recognized as the only eight-division world champion in history, having won 12 major titles. He served as a member of Congress from 2010 to 2022, representing Sarangani as a district representative and later as a senator. In 2022, he sought the presidency but lost to Marcos. That same year, he announced his retirement from professional boxing. In 2025, Pacquiao ran for the Senate under the Marcos-led Alyansa para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition but placed 18th out of 12 available seats, securing 10,397,133 votes. He later withdrew from politics and returned to boxing, announcing his intent to retire from public life in July 2025.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

2 reports

Rappler logoRapplerIndependentCenterFactual 98Objective 929/8/2026
Marcos picks Manny Pacquiao as anti-poverty czar

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as the lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC). Pacquiao, who previously ran for senator in the 2025 elections under the administration ticket but was defeated, took his oath in Malacañang on September 8, 2026. His role carries the rank of Cabinet secretary, and the appointment follows the lapse of a ban on appointing defeated 2025 candidates. The announcement highlights the administration's confidence in Pacquiao's ability to enhance government efforts against poverty, promote social reforms, and improve access to community services across the Philippines.

Bias read (Center): The article presents the appointment of Manny Pacquiao as a neutral factual report, focusing on the administrative action and background of the individual. While the subject involves high-profile politics and potential implications for governance, the framing remains balanced, citing official pronou

Why factuality (98): This article confirms the appointment of Manny Pacquiao as lead convenor of the NAPC, replacing Lope Santos III, and includes the date (September 8, 2026) and location (Malacañang). It quotes Malacañang directly and explains the background of the NAPC and the executive order that transferred oversig

Why objectivity (92): The article maintains a neutral tone throughout, quoting official statements from Malacañang and presenting the facts without bias. It briefly mentions Pacquiao's past election bid and loss but does so objectively, without suggesting approval or criticism of the appointment.

Philippine Daily Inquirer logoPhilippine Daily InquirerIndependentCenterFactual 95Objective 909/8/2026
Marcos appoints Manny Pacquiao as anti-poverty chief

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Senator and boxing icon Manny Pacquiao as the lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), a position with the rank of Cabinet secretary. The appointment took place during a ceremony at Malacañang, where Pacquiao will replace Lope Santos III, who previously held the role since 2023. This move follows Executive Order No. 123, which transferred oversight of the NAPC and the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the Office of the President. Pacquiao, known for his career in boxing and previous political involvement, including running for president in 2022 and serving as a senator until 2022, now takes on a new role focused on poverty alleviation. His recent announcement of retiring from politics and returning to boxing was made in July 2025.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information about the appointment of Manny Pacquiao to a high-ranking government position without overtly favoring any political side. It includes background on Pacquiao's career and political history but does not use biased language or selectively present information to

Why factuality (95): The article provides specific details such as the date (Sept. 8, 2026), the role of Manny Pacquiao as lead convenor of the NAPC with Cabinet secretary rank, and mentions the replacement of Lope Santos III. It also references Executive Order No. 123 and the legal basis of the NAPC via Republic Act No

Why objectivity (90): The article presents the information in a neutral tone, using straightforward language. While it refers to Pacquiao as a 'boxing legend' and highlights his return to public service, these descriptions are factual and not overly emotive. The article avoids taking a stance on the appointment itself.

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