Pacquiao a 'gain' to PDP-Laban, Palace admits

A Malacanang official on Wednesday said Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao will be a gain to his new party, Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban).   “Congressman Pacquiao, as you know, is a valued member of any party and I think that will be the gain of PDP-Laban,” Ricky Carandang, head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office, said at a press briefing.   “One party’s loss is the other party’s gain,” he added when asked to comment on Pacquiao’s transfer from Liberal Party, chaired by President Benigno Aquino III.   The eight-division boxing champion-turned-politician took his oath to his new party Monday evening.   PDP-Laban president Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said Pacquiao will be their party’s vice president in Mindanao.   Pacquiao earlier expressed readiness to run for governor of Sarangani under PDP-Laban in the 2013 elections.        Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said they respect Pacquiao’s decision if he feels he would be able to serve his constituents with the move.   Before joining LP after the 2010 elections, Pacquiao was allied with the Nacionalista Party of defeated presidential candidate Sen. Manuel Villar.   Pacquiao’s move came days after PDP-Laban, chaired by Vice President Jejomar Binay, formed a coalition called the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) with former President Joseph Estrada's Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino (PMP).  — Amita O. Legaspi/KBK, GMA News