Pacquiao accused of mauling village chief

Pacman cries harassment

MANILA, Philippines – A barangay chairman has accused fighting congressman Manny Pacquiao of manhandling him after he tried to stop the latter from allegedly distributing cash and rice to voters in General Santos City last Saturday.

According to a report by Manila Times correspondent Jerry Adlaw, San Jose barangay chairman Alfredo Belgica was allegedly beaten up by Pacquiao and his bodyguards two days before the elections.

Belgica claimed that the Sarangani congressman was campaigning house-to-house and distributing cash and goods to families in San Jose.

Belgica claimed that Pacquiao and his bodyguards ganged him up when he confronted the congressman for alleged "vote-buying."

"Magsasampa ako ng kaso laban kay Congressman Pacquiao dahil sa ginawa nyang pambubugbog sa akin kasama ang kanyang mga bodyguards," Belgica was quoted by The Manila Times as saying.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, filed a complaint against Belgica for allegedly harassing him.

A Rappler report said the boxer-congressman filed a complaint at the Fatima police station, claiming that Begica fired a gun at his supporters.

Belgica is an ally of General Santos City Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio, a supporter of South Cotabato Rep. Pedro Acharon.

Acharon is an opponent of Pacquiao’s younger brother, Rogerio “Ruel” Pacquiao, in the South Cotabato polls.