Sen. Pacquiao should fight for the poor

IS MANNY Pacquiao a senator or a boxer?

This question was raised by journalist John Pages in an item in the Sun Star of Cebu yesterday.

From the point of view of Pacquiao’s countless loyal fans, their hero could be both—a warrior and a lawmaker—and to hell with those who would disagree.

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Pacquiao had promised that his third encounter against Timothy Bradley Jr. would be his last fight.

“Pacquiao has lied,” Pages wrote.

If he wanted to continue fighting, Pacquiao should do it away from the boxing ring.

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Shouldn’t Pacquiao also stay retired to put a stop to the continued exploitation by his American promoter?

Pacquiao should continue fighting for the Pinoy in the Senate, not for himself, Pages added.

It would be an abomination if he continued to fall to the lure of greater riches.

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Of course, there’s a bigger fight Pacquiao could help in.

With his vast influence, the senator could lend a helping hand in President Duterte’s all-out campaign against the rampant drug menace in the country.

“You and I have always championed the rights of the poor,” said national sports development guru Dr. Aparicio Mequi. “All those being killed in the drug war belong to the poor helpless masa. I am appalled and sad thinking of the families and children of those being killed.”

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He added: “I detest and abhor the use of illegal drugs. Can you in your column encourage and challenge members of the sporting community to campaign against the one-sided tsunami of violence flooding our environment?”

Dr. Mequi is calling on our courageous athletes to be challenged to face social problems and attempt to change what needs to be changed in our society.

He has one urgent plea: “Please get the PBA, Gilas, UAAP, NCAA, to be the ‘Faces of Change’ in the Philippines.”

And, above all, he’s calling on Sen. Emmanuel D. Pacquiao, too.