Former Senator and boxing hero Manny Pacquiao is not joining the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP).

Pacquiao, who was recently appointed as lead convenor and secretary of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, clarified that he has already declined his election as vice president for Mindanao of the national chess federation last July.

While expressing gratitude to the trust and confidence given him by NCFP members after being elected in absentia, Pacquiao said he fully disagreed with the direction being taken by the local chess federation.

“We love sports, and I love my fellow athletes, which is why I am always ready to do everything I can to help,” Pacquiao said.

The 47-year-old boxing icon from Sarangani, who counts chess as among his favorite sports, cited several complaints he received from numerous individuals and even chess clubs nationwide about mismanagement by certain officials. These actions have greatly affected the sport.

Pacquiao also mentioned the recent 2026 Manny Pacquiao International Chess Championships in General Santos City, which attracted dozens of strong foreign players from Asia and Europe.

The event was not sanctioned by the NCFP despite him paying the required sanctioning fee which was deposited directly to the NCFP bank account.  

That would have allowed local players like Gian Carlo Arca to gain norms and tournament ratings by the world chess organization known by its French acronym FIDE.

Copies of the receipt deposited to the bank of the NCFP were distributed to the media.