Report: After meeting, PNoy rushed to hotel to watch Pacquiao fight

President Benigno Aquino III, despite his busy schedule in Japan, was able to watch the much awaited match between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and Mexican-American Antonio Margarito. Government-run Radyo ng Bayan reported that Aquino, who attended the closed-door Leaders’ retreat at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, immediately returned to his hotel to catch the 12-round fight. It said Aquino watched the bout at the Presidential Security Group’s Tactical Operations Center that was set up at the hotel in Yokohoma where he was billeted. Aquino, the radio report said, joined the cheering and prayers offered for Pacquiao, who won via unanimous decision. He was quoted as saying that Pacquio’s victory doubled the celebration and happiness for Filipinos who would benefit from the honor resulting from victory as well as the investments that he would bring home from Japan. Presidential Communications Operations Office secretary Herminio Coloma said before the fight, Aquino instructed his staff to watch the match and immediately inform him of the results should he fails to watch it. “Binabati po natin ang ating pambansang kamao na si Manny Pacquiao sa ngalan po ng ating Pangulo na ngayon ay nakikipag-talakayan sa APEC Summit sa Japan. Lubos po ang ating kagalakan at batid namin na ang Pangulo rin ay galak na galak sa tagumpay na ito ni Manny Pacquiao," Coloma said in an interview over DzBB minutes after the match. (We are congratulating Manny Pacquiao on behalf of our President, who is now attending the APEC Summit in Japan. We are really happy about his victory and so, we are sure, is the President.) Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte, in an interview by Radyo ng Bayan, said the Aquino Cabinet – both those in Manila and in Japan – rooted and prayed for Paqcuiao’s victory. She added that even before the fight, she was confident that Pacquiao, a congressman representing Sarangani province, would prevail and bring honor to the country once again. On the call of some sector for Pacquiao to retire from boxing and focus on his duty as a member of the House of Representatives, Valte said it is a decision that only Pacquiao could make. “At pagdating naman po sa pagreretiro, si Congressman Pacquiao po yung makakasagot sa tanong po na iyan (Only Pacquiao could answer questions about his retirement from boxing)," she said. She added that Pacquiao’s constituents were well aware when they voted for him that he is still active in boxing and would be dividing his time, energy and focus on his sports career with his lawmaking job. - KBK, GMANews.TV