Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez is known in the sports world for being Senator Manny Pacquiao’s boxing trainer, but he has just added another job title to his resume after he won the vice mayoralty race of the town of Polangui in Albay province yesterday.
Fernandez won the vice mayoralty position, based on unofficial Commission on Election results which showed that he received 19,895 votes versus his closest competitor, independent candidate Atom Borja who received 17,711 votes. Trailing in third place is another independent candidate, Dexter Salinel, who received 1,771 votes.
The boxing trainer, Senator Pacquiao’s childhood friend, ran under the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan which is chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte, reported Rappler.
But this is not the first time for Fernandez to hold an elective post. He worked as Polangui’s councilor before being elected as vice mayor, ABS-CBN News reported.
Fernandez became Manny’s trainer in 2018 after the latter had a falling out with his long-time mentor Freddie Roach. The senator said Fernandez is no slouch — it was under his guidance that the former won his bout against Lucas Mathysse in July.
Roach has reunited with Senator Pacquiao in November, but Fernandez remains Manny’s trainer and shares responsibilities equally with Roach, reported Sports Illustrated. Fernandez will again be involved with the senator’s training for his upcoming fight against American boxer Keith Thurman in July.
Fernandez is not the only member of Team Pacquiao who won in this week’s midterm elections. Rogelio Pacquiao, Manny’s brother, was re-elected as a congressman in the lone district of Sarangani with 179,126 votes, far more than his opponent Jacob Arroyo who got 9,568 votes.
Manny’s cousin, Zyrex Pacquiao, won the mayoralty position in the town of Maasim, also in Sarangani. He received 14,107 votes while his closest competitor Uttoh Salem Cutan received 11,365. Prior to his win, Zyrex worked as Maasim’s councilor.
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