'I'll fight every day if that will unite us' – Pacquiao

Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao is willing to fight every day if that's what it takes to make Filipinos united. He is obviously aware how his fights give his countrymen a feeling of being one – if only for as many rounds as he lasts in the ring. Just last May, Pacquiao himself tried to be a politician, running a losing bid for the House seat of General Santos City against the incumbent, Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who happens to be a fan of his. It proved to be an expensive lesson for him. But he seems to have realized one thing from it. Two days before his rematch with Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, the Pacman had a message to politicians. In an interview aired on Friday on GMA's 24 Oras Pacquiao said: "Hinihiling ko lang ay magka-isa tayong lahat. Kalimutan muna natin yung pulitika. Kung sino man ang nagkakasala, sampahan ng kaso at bahala na ang judge at mga court ang maghusga. Kung magkasala ikulong. Kung sa bawat laban ko nagkakaisa ang sambayanang Pilipino, kahit araw-araw lalaban ako." [Translation; "I'm wishing that we could all be united. Let's forget about politics for awhile. Anyone who breaks a law, let's file charges and let the judges and courts decide the case. If he's guilty, put him in prison. If my fight unites the whole Filipino nation, then I would fight every day." The question was prompted by the arrival in the United States of some of his ardent supporters, who happen to be politicians. Among the first to plane into Las Vegas, where the fight is to be held, were Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson, Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, and Maguindanao Gov. Andal Ampatuan. "Alam naman na wala naman siyang katalo-talo, pero mag-ingat pa rin (We all know that he's not going to lose, but he still has to be careful)," Singson told GMA reporter Lei Alviz, who's covering the event in Las Vegas. Some of the politicians, like Singson, checked in at the luxurious MGM Grand Hotel, where the cheapest room goes for no less than $300 (roughly P13,500) per day. - GMANews.TV