Drilon: OK for Pacquiao to fight, but…

Manny Pacquiao. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines— For as long as he could perform his duties as a legislator, neophyte Senator Manny Pacquiao may go back to the boxing ring.

Outgoing Senate President Franklin Drilon on Thursday expressed his support for Pacquiao’s reported plan to go back to boxing, confirming for the first time that the newly-elected senator had sought his permission to fight again.

“He asked me if he can box.  I said ‘there’s nothing to prevent you, but you can do it in a manner that will not interfere with your job as a senator because you will be severely criticized.’  And so I said ‘you can box during the break,” said Drilon in a Senate forum.

“I support his desire to exercise his profession as a professional boxer as long as he remains true to his commitment that he will not let the exercise of his profession to interfere with his Senate duties,” he said.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said last week that Pacquiao was planning a return bout sometime in November: “He likes to fight, and he likes the attention.”

READ: ‘Passion’ for boxing fuels Pacquiao as he eyes comeback

But Pacquiao, formerly a Sarangani representative who was notoriously absent during his term, denied that he was planning to take a leave from the Senate.  In a statement, he said “my priority is my legislative work.”

READ: Pacquiao attended only 1 day

Apart from his legislative duties and  boxing matches, Pacquiao is also a pastor, businessman, basketball coach and player, occasional actor, recording artist and an international product endorser./rga