Pacquiao leaves decision on competing in Rio Olympics to people

IT IS up to the people to decide if newly elected Senator Manny Pacquiao should participate in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Pacquiao said on Thursday that he does not want to draw flak if he decides by himself to join the Olympics and incur absences in the Senate this August.

As Sarangani representative, Pacquiao earned the distinction of racking up the biggest number of absences in the House of Representatives. In 2014, he only attended four session days.

“Sa Olympics, pinag-iisipan pa natin nang mabuti yan. Gusto kong tanungin ang sambayanang Pilipino kung papayag ba sila kasi August yung Olympics eh. August then [umpisa] na yung trabaho ko. Baka sabihin, ‘O, first month, second month pa lang sa trabaho niya, absent na naman.’ Baka sisihin na naman ako so kailangan kong itanong kung payag ba ang sambayanang Pilipino na mag-participate ako sa Olympics,” the boxer-legislator told reporters after he was proclaimed as senator.

Last month, the eight-time world champion said that he was thinking of participating in the Rio Olympics.

The Olympics will be held from August 5 to 21.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr. said that Pacquiao would bring home a gold medal should he decide to join the Olympics.

The boxer-legislator landed in seventh place in the senatorial race with 16,050,546 votes.