No salary, no office for DOJ ‘agent Pacquiao’ - Gonzalez

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao will neither receive salary nor get his own office for being a special assistant to the Justice Secretary on intelligence matters, Secretary Raul Gonzalez said Tuesday. In a radio interview, Gonzalez said Pacquiao volunteered his services at a dinner before his bout with Oscar dela Hoya last December. "Kung ano matutulong daw niya, he is offering his services to the department for free. Hindi siya pwedeng magpasweldo sa department dahil ayaw niya maging public official [He offered his services for free. He knows he cannot receive a salary because he would become a government official, which he doesn’t want]," Gonzalez said over dzXL radio. Gonzalez also said Pacquiao is a long-time friend. He said Pacquiao could help get intelligence reports about security matters, which the boxing champ could either directly report to him or to the National Bureau of Investigation. When asked when Pacquiao could start working as “Agent Pacquiao," Gonzalez said: "He is already there (on the job)." Intelligence information to be given by Pacquiao would still be evaluated. "It will have to be assessed. We will not just accept any report. It has to be assessed to find out if there is basis for a report. But the fact he is offering himself for free, that is laudable," Gonzalez said. - GMANews.TV