Don’t gamble on Pacquiao fight, bishops tell congressmen

MANILA, Philippines—Two Roman Catholic bishops called on congressmen who will watch Manny Pacquiao’s bout with Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas not gamble money away — regardless of whether it’s their own or taxpayers’.

Speaking over the Church-owned Radio Veritas, Lipa Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and Tagbilaran Leonardo Bishop Medroso voiced the Church’s stand against all forms of gambling and called on the lawmakers to just use the money to help poor and hungry Filipinos.

Arguelles said it was an “open secret” that some politicians who watch Pacquiao’s bouts would also place bets.

“Of course they place bets—not if Pacquiao will win or not but in what round he will knock out his opponent. We’re not judging them but they are elected by the people so they should be good examples. But what they are showing is that they are the ones who are leading in gambling. They should be conscience-stricken. If they would use the money they intend to gamble in helping their poor constituents, we can say that they really deserve to be our leaders,” Arguelles said.

Medroso said not just the politicians but all the public should refrain from making bets on the Pacquiao-Marquez bout.

He said the people should pray that nothing bad will happen to the boxers and that both Pacquiao and Marquez bring honor to the their countries.