At least 14 members of House of Representatives have left or are set to leave the country for United States this week.
It was not clear, however, if they will be watching the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-welterweight fight of their colleague, Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, against Antonio Margarito over the weekend.
Pacquiao's fight against Antonio Margarito is slated on November 13, Saturday (November 14, Sunday in Manila) at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Pacquiao reportedly offered to pay for the tickets and accommodations of any of his fellow lawmakers who want to watch his fight. Based on the list released by the Office of the Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, those given travel authorities to the US were Representatives:
Peter Unabia (Misamis Oriental), USA, Nov 9-20;
Patricio Antonio (Agbiag partylist) - USA, Nov 9-20; Cesar Jalosjos (Zamboanga del Norte)- Dallas, Texas Nov 11-15;
Dakila Carlo Cua (Quirino) - USA, Nov 10-22; Mark Villar (Las Pinas) USA, Nov 11-15; Gina De Venecia (Pangasinan) USA, Nov 8-14; Amado Bagatsing (Manila) USA, Nov 10-20; Batocabe (Ako Bicol) USA, Nov 9-16; Garbin USA, Nov. 11-19; Joel Roy Duavit (Rizal) USA Nov. 2-15; Roberto Puno (Antipolo City) USA Nov 10-17;
Alfredo Benitez (Negros Occidental) USA Nov 8-17; Renato Unico (Camarines Norte) Nov 8-19; Cherry Umali (Nueva Ecija) Nov. 12-22. 50 solons out of country Earlier House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte said about 50 solons will be out of the country on the week of Pacquiao's fight. "So far there were something like I would say maximum of 50, maybe less than that that I have approved, given travel authority," Belmonte said in an interview with reporters on November 4. He clarified the travel authorities he signed were for the trip of the lawmakers "all over the world, mainly Asian destinations." "I wouldn't be surprised if some of those who said they're going to be in the United States will eventually end up in the Pacquiao fight," he said. He earlier clarified that lawmakers are allowed to watch Pacquiao’s fight provided that they will use their personal money and will not get funds from the House. Those who will skip the session will be marked absent, he said. The House has 278 members. House accounts committee chairman Florencio Noel confirmed that no congressman asked or was given fund for their US travel. People's Champ Manny Pacquiao or Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao is a seven-division world champion, the first boxer in history to win nine world titles in seven different weight divisions. The Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) has named him "Fighter of the Decade" for the 2000s. Pacquiao is currently the WBO Welterweight World Champion (Super Champion). He was rated as the number 1 pound-for-pound boxer in the world by several sporting news and boxing websites, such as The Ring, Sports Illustrated, ESPN, NBC Sports, Yahoo! Sports and About.com. He is the first active boxer to become a congressman in the Philippines. –VVP, GMANews.TV 
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