Cabinet men won’t watch Pacquiao-Diaz fight in Vegas - Dureza

MANILA, Philippines - Press Secretary Jesus Dureza denied that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Cabinet members accompanying her in the US would stay behind to watch the Pacquiao-Diaz fight on June 28 in Las Vegas (morning of June 29 in Manila). Dureza, in a statement from New York, said they are all returning to Manila with Mrs Arroyo on June 30 to aid victims of typhoon Frank. "No information (that) accompanying Cabinet members [are off] to [Las] Vegas. We are going back home with PGMA (Mrs Arroyo) and continue attending to calamity. On (the) Pacquiao fight, we will be cheering for him, joining the Filipinos worldwide," he said. Reports said some members of the delegation are considering staying behind to watch the fight on June 28, the same day that Mrs Arroyo is scheduled to return to Manila. Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. earlier called on the delegation, particularly lawmakers from devastated provinces, to cut short their trip and return home instead of proceeding to Las Vegas to watch the fight. Mrs Arroyo is set to leave Washington around 6 p.m. on June 28 (6 a.m. Sunday in Manila) for San Francisco, where she has a connecting flight to Manila. The plane would leave around 10:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. Sunday in Manila). She is expected to land at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal III around 5:25 a.m. June 30. Palace officials said she would inspect the terminal, which would open for domestic operations next month. After the inspection , she would go the Villamor Airbase to send off Air Force aircrafts carrying relief goods. On Tuesday, Mrs Arroyo is expected to fly to Iloilo, where she is considering holding a Cabinet meeting. - GMANews.TV