Pacquiao heeds advice not to go to Leyte

Manny Pacquiao: Aching to comfort typhoon survivors. AFP FILE PHOTO

GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Philippines—Pugilist and lawmaker Manny Pacquiao had ached to go to Leyte to visit and provide assistance to victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” there but his aides prevented him from doing so, his assistant trainer said Monday.

Dionisia, Pacquiao’s mother, is a native of Leyte.

Buboy Fernandez, assistant trainer of Pacquiao, told reporters here that the Sarangani congressman had asked their permission to visit Tacloban City and other typhoon-hit areas in Visayas but was advised by his team against doing it this time.

“His bout is fast approaching that’s why we told him to do it after Macau,” Fernandez said, adding that Pacquiao had acceded to the advice.

In a subsequent interview, Pacquiao said he was at least satisfied that Sarangani province had sent relief assistance to areas badly battered by Yolanda.

“I am going to deliver additional assistance there. In fact, I will be visiting the victims soon to at least uplift their spirits. I will do that immediately after my fight,” he said before leaving for Macau on Monday.

Pacquiao said he will put up a good fight to provide inspiration to people affected by the disaster and the Filipino nation in general.

It was a known fact that the Philippines would almost grind to a halt during Pacquiao’s bouts.