ShareThisMANILA – President Benigno S. Aquino III met with Filipino pound-for-pound king and Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao at the Premier Guest House in Malacañang last Friday.
PACQUIAO MEETS PNOY. President Benigno S. Aquino III shows a pair of yellow boxing gloves and a jacket signed and given by pound-for-pound king and Sarangani lone district Representative Manny Pacquiao during a courtesy call at the Premier Guest House Lobby, Malacanang on May 20. Pacquiao defeated American boxer Sugar Shane Mosley by unanimous decision last May 8 in Las Vegas Nevada. He is scheduled to fight Mexican challenger Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time on November 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada for his WBO welterweight title.
The courtesy call of Pacquiao occurred 6-days after the Filipino ring idol came back home from Las Vegas, Nevada where he successfully defended his WBO welterweight crown against American boxing veteran Sugar Shane Mosley.
The meeting of Aquino and Pacquaio became controversial due of the different stand of the two on the RH Bill. The boxing champion, who is also a representative of Sarangani province, is a staunch critic of the RH Bill, a measure that the President was supporting.
Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda earlier said the presence of Pacquiao in Malacanang shows that democracy is still active and alive in the country. It also shows that the President respects the decision or choice of each individual to support or to become critic of the RH Bill.
During the call, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the President and Pacquiao had an opportunity to talk and discuss the Reproductive Health Bill pending at Congress.
In that meeting, Valte said, the President reiterated to Pacquiao that the RH Bill is against abortion and it was based on his 5-point stand that will educate married couples on the importance of responsible parenthood.
She said the President also shared to Pacquiao the stories of a 16-year old young mother from Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila and a young boy patient that he met during the inauguration of the 6th and 10th floor facilities of Sta. Ana Hospital in Sta. Ana, Manila.
During the photo opportunity, Pacquiao handed over the pair of yellow boxing gloves he used in his fight against Mosley, DVD copies of the fight, a ‘Pacman’ souvenir gray hoodie jacket and yellow T-shirt.
As a token for his new victory and another honor for the country, the President gifted Pacquiao with his coffee table book “The Inaugural: The Inside Story of the Aquino Presidency” and a decorative box.
Joining Pacquiao in his visit to Malacanang were Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson and some members of Team Poacquiao.