By John F. McKenna (McJack): Filipino Congressman and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s) has become ensnared in an embarrassing situation in which he allegedly is delinquent in paying taxes in his homeland. This is not exactly the predicament that a potential future presidential candidate should be getting into.

It goes without saying that Pacquiao is an icon in his homeland where a large percentage of his fellow countrymen adore him with a fervor that borders on idolatry. There are many questions being asked as to how this could happen to a fighter who supposedly has an army of advisors and financial analysts to prevent such a thing from happening.

Of course there will be blowback from millions of Manny’s supporters who will question how his advisors could have allowed this to happen to their hero. It is no secret that Pacquiao has been making a serious effort though the urging of his wife Jinkee to turn his life around. The late night partying and gambling has been replaced by Manny’s participation in bible studies. Also the alleged womanizing has also stopped. The farm that was used to raise chickens for cockfighting has been sold.

Hopefully Manny will make good on his promise to live a Christian life where he devotes more of his time and energy to his family. It is likely that Pacquiao will fight only two or three more times before he retires and ends his illustrious ring career. It is thought that a promising political career awaits “Pacman” when he retires from the ring.

In the rough and tumble world of politics Pacquiao, if the allegations of delinquent taxes are true, is unwittingly giving his future political opponents free ammunition which they will use to blow his aspiring political career out of the water.

While many Pacquiao supporters may be willing to overlook any of his alleged tax problems and blame them on his tax consultants and financial advisors, in the final analysis he will be the one held responsible. And while Pacquiao is wildly popular in his native homeland, that popularity will largely evaporate in the years ahead.

The old axiom of what have you done for me lately is especially true in politics. Today’s heroes are soon forgotten. Even Britain’s World War II hero Winston Churchill was voted out of office shortly after the war after saving his country from oblivion at the hands of Nazi Germany. Pacquiao needs to get the tax issue behind him quickly.