INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?A lawmaker who is a regular ringside spectator in Manny Pacquiao's matches has said he would forego his United States trip to watch the boxer's latest fight so he could attend to the victims of the massive fire which killed 17 people in Negros Occidental.

Bacolod Representative Monico Puentevella on Thursday said he would just donate the money he would have spent for the trip to the other victims of the November 2 fire, who lost their homes and belongings.

But when pressed as to how much he usually spends on a US trip for a Pacquiao match, Puentevella declined to answer, saying he would try to compute the amount first.

Puentevella usually watches Pacquiao's fights live since he also covers the event for Bombo Radyo Philippines.

But this time, he said he would rather condole with the families of those killed in the blaze, and with those left homeless.

The fire razed a boarding house and destroyed 59 homes. Authorities point to an unattended candle in the boarding house as the source of the blaze.

?More than the relief goods, the assistance that generously poured in, I believe that our individual and collective presence in their midst at this time of great sorrow and pain is equally valuable as they try to recover their lives and move on from the ashes of the disaster,? Puentevella said in a statement.

Lawmakers have reportedly flown to the US or are planning to do so in the coming days to watch Pacquiao's Nov. 14 bout in Las Vegas, where he would duke it out with Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto.

But some of their colleagues were unhappy with their decision, saying their US trip would cause them to miss a session day or more, and could derail the passage of important measures.

The expected pilgrimage to the Pacquiao fight has prompted a Palace official to say that lawmakers should know their priorities and should be sensitive to their constituents' plight.

Many provinces are still recovering from the devastating effects of the string of tropical storms and typhoons that hit the country recently.