Some lawmakers to watch Pacquiao-Marquez fight live in Las Vegas

MANNY Pacquiao throws a left at trainer Freddie Roach in Monday’s final mitts session at Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. ROY LUARCA

MANILA, Philippines — It’s crunch time at the House of Representatives but a House leader on Thursday said that some of their members will be trooping to Las Vegas to watch fellow lawmaker Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao’s boxing fight.

Despite desperate calls and constant reminders from the House leadership in its effort to maintain quorum during the last two weeks of work before they adjourn for the holidays, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said that they issued 16 travel authorities with the US as destination.

“All are travelling at their own expense. Several of them were still here yesterday (Wednesday) so I’m not sure all left,” he said in a text message.

Manila Representative Amado Bagatsing, chairman of the House committee on games and amusement, said that the lawmakers have scheduled to fly for the US within the week for the Saturday bout between Pacquiao and Marquez. He refused to name the lawmakers who will be watching the fight live.

Asked if they would be going, House majority leader Neptali Gonzales II, Bagatsing and House minority leader Danilo Suarez said that they will focus on passing important legislation instead.

The House of Representatives has been working overtime to pass key measures like the Reproductive Health Bill.