Military congratulates Sergeant Major Pacquiao

The defense and military establishments on Sunday threw their full support behind boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in his victorious fight against Puerto Rican slugger Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas, Nevada. In Camp Aguinaldo, outgoing Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Armed Forces chief Gen. Victor Ibrado joined thousands of military officers and enlisted personnel and their families in watching the match via pay-per-view at the AFP Gym. The 30-year-old Pacquiao is the sergeant major of the Army’s reserve force and holds the rank of senior master sergeant. “It’s really ready a battle. The tenacity of Manny Pacquiao is really admirable," said Teodoro, who will be relinquishing the Defense portfolio on Monday to national security adviser Norberto Gonzales.

Teodoro was with his son, Jaime Gilberto, in watching the fight while Ibrado was with his wife, Dolores. Hoots and cheers characterized the soldiers as they watched Pacquiao pummel Cotto, who lost by technical knockout (TKO) when referee Kenny Bayless stopped the fight at 55 seconds of the 12th round. Ibrado congratulated Pacquiao for setting a world record by being the first boxer to win seven championship belts. At the Army headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Army chief Lt. Gen. Delfin Bangit led thousands of officers and civilians in watching the fight at the Army gym. Also present in the free viewing of the match were Southern Luzon Command chief Lt. Gen. Roland Detabali, Special Operations Command chief Maj. Gen. Arturo Ortiz, former AFP chief now Presidential Management chief Hermogenes Esperon, Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes and Defense undersecretary Ernesto Carolina. “The Philippine Army has been supporting Manny Pacquiao, who is not only a national icon but also a reservist of the Philippine Army," said Army spokesman Lt. Col. Arnulfo Marcelo Burgos. - GMANews.TV