AFP: Soldiers to stay vigilant despite free screening of Pacquiao bout

The Armed Forces of the Philippines will remain on alert this Sunday, when its reserve Lieutenant Colonel and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao slugs it out with Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas. AFP chief of staff Gen. Eduardo Oban Jr. said that while they have set up a free screening for soldiers and their families, those on duty on Sunday will have to settle for replays of the fight. "On-duty soldiers will have to skip the live showing, in order to continuously perform our duties of maintaining peace and stability in our country. Even though in the past, there have been low incidence of violence during Pacquiao’s fights, we still have to be vigilant and maintain our strong coordination with the Philippine National Police to ensure peace and stability in the country," he said in a news release. Earlier, the AFP started making arrangements for a free live viewing of the Pacquiao-Marquez bout in venues such as:

• the AFP General Headquarters Gym
• AFP Grandstand
• Philippine Air Force (PAF) Gym
• Philippine Army (PA) Gymnasium and Grandstand
• Philippine Navy (PN) Gymnasium at the PN Headquarters
• Fort Bonifacio General Hospital at the PA Headquarters.

"Soldiers who are confined at the V. Luna Hospital, including battle-casualties will also have the chance to watch the boxing match at the V. Luna Auditorium," the AFP added. The AFP said it expects some 2,000 people to watch the airing of the bout at the AFP Grandstand. Another 1,000 viewers are expected to watch at V. Luna Medical Center. For their part, the Navy and Air Force both expect 1,000 viewers each, while the Army prepared its gym for 3,000 people. Some 300 people are expected to watch at the Fort Bonifacio General Hospital and 3,000 at the Army Grandstand. “We wish him all the best for we strongly believe that Pacquiao’s fight is an unyielding symbol of hope significant to all of us who are continuously aspiring for a just and lasting peace for our nation. Manny Pacquiao’s exemplary acts of audacity and boldness in the boxing ring will once again inspire our soldiers to perform their utmost best in winning the peace for the people in a different arena," Oban said. — LBG, GMA News