Think first before voting lawmakers who dropped tasks to watch boxing - bishop

MANILA, Philippines — A Catholic bishop on Tuesday urged the public to “think carefully and weigh their options" before re-electing the politicians who chose to fly to Las Vegas to watch Manny Pacquiao’s bout and left their “pending tasks in Congress." Catarman Bishop Emmanuel Trance said the congressmen who left for the US should have focused on passing urgent measures, which were crucial amid the problems the Philippines is facing today. “And because of what they (lawmakers) did, the public must think carefully first (before voting them again)," Trance said in an article posted on the CBCP Web site. Trance said there are more pending bills in Congress that needed more attention such as economic legislation and agrarian reform issues. “It would help the public if they are going to keep an eye on their legislators if they are really pushing the welfare of their constituents," he said. The House of Representative’s secretary-general last week said only five or four congressmen left the country days before Pacquiao’s match against British boxer Ricky Hatton took place. But a national broadsheet quoted sources saying that about 50 congressmen left the country to watch the battle dubbed “Battle of East and West." Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño expressed dismay over his colleagues’ action, saying the lower chamber could not reach a quorum because of their absence. - GMANews.TV