Army promotes Pacquiao to master sergeant

The Philippine Army has promoted Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao to the next higher rank of master sergeant in the reserve force for bringing honor by defeating Mexican boxer Marco Antonio Barrera at the Mandalay Bay Event Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, last Sunday. Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said Thursday that Pacquiao has been promoted for “bringing distinct honor" not only to the Army but also to the entire nation after defeating Barrera via a unanimous decision. In an ambush interview in Camp Aguinaldo, Armed Forces chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr, who was among those who hailed the victory of Pacquiao, said the Filipino boxer deserves the promotion. “That’s the prerogative of the Army chief (Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano) since Pacquiao belongs to the Army as a reservist," said Esperon. On whether the Filipino boxing icon deserves the promotion, Esperon said: “Oh yes, of course. It’s a reservist rank anyway." Told that there may be some irony because Pacquiao is portraying a rebel role in his upcoming “Anak ng Kumander" movie with actress Ara Mina, Esperon said: “Well, let’s separate movies from real life...That’s purely acting." Esperon said acting and real life are two different things. “I hope he does not find it difficult because other people find it difficult to be acting in their real life," the military chief said of Pacquiao. On Pacquiao’s playing a rebel role when he is a military reservist, Esperon said: “It’s not really irony. However, that’s the fact of being in showbiz. Sometimes, good people are given a bad role (in the movies). So do you blame that guy for pursuing an artistic pursuit?" - GMANews.TV