Cebu police to secure venues showing Pacquiao fight

In this Feb. 6, 2014 file photo, boxer Manny Pacquiao, of the Phillipines, left, poses for a photo with current WBO World Welterweight champion Timothy Bradley of Indio, Ca., during a press conference in New York. Bradley believes former pound-for-pound king Pacquiao has lost his competitive fire heading into Saturday’s, April 12, 2014 welterweight rematch in Las Vegas. AP

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Cebu City police have been directed to be on alert and ensure peace and order in and around establishments  offering a live showing of the fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American Tim Bradley on Sunday.

Chief Inspector Romeo Santander, Cebu City intelligence chief, said that while the crime rate usually drops during a Pacquiao fight, the police should not be complacent.

He pointed out that untoward incidents may occur especially since many place bets on the results of the fight.

Cimena 8 of SM Cebu City and Cinema 3 of SM City Consolacion will show the fight live for P550 per ticket and P500 for Ayala Center Cebu’s Cinema 2.

RJ Leduna, SM Senior Public Relations officer, said around 50 percent of the tickets were already sold.

Flor Lentiu of Ayala Center Cinema said 90 percent of the upper seats tickets had been sold already, but only 30 percent of lower seat tickets had been sold by Saturday afternoon.

Several hotels were also to show the fight live. These are Parklane Hotel, Sarrosa International Hotel and  Marco Polo, which were to provide  pay-per view for in-house guests in the amount of P1,500 per room.

The Cebu City Coliseum will also be open Sunday  for Pacquiao fans with varying rates: P150 for ringside, P100 for lower box, P50 for upper box and P30 general admission.

Cebu Coliseum Secretary Susan Bacalso said the rates were lower compared to the previous Pacquiao fights.

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