MARCOS APPOINTS PACQUIAO AS NEW ANTI-POVERTY CHIEF

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday, September 8, swore in former senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as secretary and lead convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).

Absolutely. For a more journalistic, straight-news style, I’d avoid phrases like “high-profile figure” and focus on the appointment, his mandate, and relevant political context.

Pacquiao’s appointment marks his return to public office after losing his bid for a Senate seat in the 2025 midterm elections. He ran under the Marcos-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas coalition but failed to secure a spot in the Senate.

As NAPC chief, Pacquiao will oversee the commission’s efforts to coordinate government programs aimed at reducing poverty and addressing the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized sectors.

The appointment also comes against the backdrop of Pacquiao’s previous political rivalry with Marcos. The former senator ran for president in the 2022 elections, where Marcos ultimately won the presidency.

Pacquiao later sought a return to the Senate in 2025, this time under the administration-backed coalition.

His new role places him at the helm of the government’s coordinating body for anti-poverty initiatives, as the administration continues efforts to address poverty and improve social protection programs.