MILF ‘proud of Pacquiao’

DAVAO CITY — The Moro Islamic Liberation Front rejoiced in Manny Pacquiao’s second victory over American boxer Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas, saying his convincing triumph was a big boost for Mindanaoans.

“We are proud of Manny Pacquiao, whose rags-to-riches life experience through hard-work and faith in the Almighty has brought him to where he is,” said MILF vice chair for political affairs Ghazali Jaafar, speaking from Camp Darapanan, home base of the MILF in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao,

But in North Cotabato, the crowd that watched the live feed of the fight was apparently less compared with those seen in Pacquiao’s previous fights.

In the town of Mlang, people seemed to have opted to work instead of going to the gymnasium to watch the bout.

Hernand Dapudong, a worker of the local government in Mlang town, said there was an unexpected decrease in the number of people who watched the fight.

Dapudong said the gymnasium that could accommodate at least 1,500 people had only more than 300 viewers on Sundaymorning.

“Perhaps the people in Mlang worked rather than watch the fight,” Dapudong in a text message said.

In Kidapawan City, there was no government-sponsored public viewing, nor live screening in business establishments.

Instead, boxing enthusiasts watched the fight in a store selling second-hand television sets.  SFM

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