Manny Pacquiao will not only have to contend with political rival Roy Chiongbian in his quest to win a seat for Philippine Congress, he also has to keep in check his warring political allies and ward leaders.

One trusted long-time ally has been bullying others, so that even Manny’s uncles-in-law are annoyed.  To think that Manny had already poured P70 million ($1.6 million) for his town to ensure his re-election, and this guy reportedly wants more to win another term.

From the grapevine, it looks everybody wants this guy to lose to get him back to his proper place.

Coach Freddie Roach also sees Manny losing the elections.

Echoing popular sentiments, Roach said many Filipino boxing fans want Manny to continue his boxing career and only join politics when he is already retired.  The spectre of not seeing Manny box anymore if he wins a seat in the House of Representatives is simply inconceivable for many Filipinos, boxing fans or not.

His media team is also not helping Manny’s cause.

A media practitioner privy to the ins and outs of the boxing champion’s communications team said there are at least three factions in Manny’s media team.  They cannot see eye to eye and cannot bear to have each other in one room. 

Reason?  His media coordinator Bambi Doctolero reportedly has been shortchanging members of his team.

This guy, a former broadcaster, was kicked out from a radio station for reportedly receiving payola from illegal number game financiers on behalf of its station manager and his assistant without their knowledge while still connected with the station, sources say.

He also is making sure Manny gets to be interviewed by foreign as well as local media only when he gives clearance.  (Read: all requests for interviews must go through him and him only).

Manny’s cordon sanitaire has also prevented him from conducting house to house campaigning, preferring to hold Manny speeches in rallies and summoning leaders instead of making the rounds in their remote villages.

His political advisers seem content on handing out cash and projects rather than organizing machinery that will match his opponent’s well entrenched political apparatus.

One hardware supplier in General Santos City had reportedly already released some P38 million in construction materials – mostly jetmatic and pitcher pumps and pipes – on account of Manny’s purchase orders.

As one close Manny confidante revealed, many of Manny’s ‘advisers’ have submitted proposals to the tune of up to P10 million.  How many of them have submitted, one can only guess.

This is on top of the cold cash that were already given to each of Manny’s seven mayoralty candidates, his governor and vice governor – all of them were also provided vehicles.

Manny could still win the election but at a price unprecedented for one seeking a seat in the House of Representative and only if his rival won’t pour in money to match the boxing champ’s war chest – value for every peso.

At the end of the day, it will be fame and money against machinery and money.