Pacquiao denies owning posh resort in Boracay

MANILA, Philippines - Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao denied owning the multi-million 12-villa resort being constructed on Boracay Island in Malay, Aklan, GMA News reported Wednesday. "Hindi ko alam kasi hindi ako may-ari e, (I don't know anything about that because I am not the owner)," Pacquiao said when asked of the controversial resort. One of Pacquiao's close friends has claimed ownership of the 930-square meter resort. He is Crisostomo Aquino, a businessman and the official Philippine flag bearer whenever Pacquiao has a fight outside the country. Aquino said it was in December last year when Pacquiao first saw the resort and immediately liked it. He said that was when Pacquiao visited the resort with his family. Since then, the boxer had been asking Aquino if he can be a part-owner of the resort. At present, Aquino said that such has yet to materialize as Pacquiao still wants to see more renovations. "Si Manny, mainipin yan e. Gusto..gusto niya may bilyaran, mayroong dart room, mayroong karaoke room. Lalagyan ko pa ng half court para sa basketball, (Manny is impatient...he wants to have a billiard hall, a dart room, a karaoke room...even a basketball court)" Aquino said. The businessman said he shelled out almost P85 million for the resort. Aquino said they started constructing the villas in 2006, years before the Malay Sangguniang Bayan issued Resolution No. 042, imposing a construction moratorium in Boracay that would be effective from January 2 to July 2, 2008. "Na-acquire namin ito doon sa isang partner ko. Sabi niya siya na ang bahalang umayos ng papeles kaya tinutuloy lang namin, (We acquired this from a previous partner. He took care of the paper requirements and we continued with the project)," he said. - Amita Legaspi, GMANews.TV