MANILA, Philippines--Manny Pacquiao as the Philippine flag bearer for the Beijing Olympics?

By all means.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco said Friday he will convene the board to elect the newly crowned WBC lightweight champion as the flag bearer of the 15-athlete contingent to China in the opening ceremony on Aug. 8.

"In keeping with his effort to unify the nation through his excellence in boxing, we are tasking the RP Olympics secretariat to work on having him as the country's flag bearer," said Cojuangco.

The development came after President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier expressed desire that Pacquaio lift the Philippine colors--an honor usually given to the most illustrious member of the delegation--when Team Philippines walks the parade of nations in the Beijing joust. This is the first time in the country's Olympic participation when a non-member is hoisting the tricolors. Making it more remarkable is that Pacquiao never even fought as an amateur boxer.

"Anybody can be a flag bearer," said POC spokesman Joey Romasanta when asked whether Pacquiao's being a non-official member of the delegation may become an issue. "For as long as you are part of the delegation, you can be a flag bearer."

Romasanta said Olympic secretariat Moying Martelino is now working on getting accreditation for Pacquiao, who just arrived Friday morning after successfully wresting his fourth title in as many weight classes against American David Diaz in Las Vegas.

One thing going against it, however, is the fact that the POC board has already decided on having 2007 Southeast Asian Games most outstanding athlete Miguel Molina to be the flag bearer.

Romasanta said the board decided on the prolific swimmer and the same body will replace him in favor of the man now considered the greatest Filipino boxer of all time.

The privilege of being a flag-bearer used to be reserved for Olympians like Eric Buhain and Roel Velasco.