MANILA, Philippines ? Speaker Prospero Nograles has taken the cudgels for his colleagues in the House of Representatives who are under attack for flying to the US to watch the bout between Manny Pacquiao and Miguel Cotto on November 15.

Amid reports that some 20 lawmakers are watching the fight at the time when Congress would be in session, Malacañang and several critics issued a statement saying that the congressmen should know their priorities and that they should be sensitive to the plight of their constituents who might have been among the victims of the recent calamities.

"Well I think the ones who will go Vegas are the regulars and will not miss sessions because they leave Thursday afternoon and be back Tuesday morning so they may miss only one session day, Monday, which is privilege hour day," Nograles told INQUIRER.net in a text message when asked to react.

Nograles is himself in the US to meet with legislators. He said he would be back in the country for the opening of session on November 9.

But he will fly to the US anew to watch Pacquiao's fight. He said he has never missed a bout of the "people's champ."

"I have never missed his fight and I am part of the team especially because he comes from Mindanao and has residence my district in Davao," he explained.

He said he didn?t know how many congressmen were watching the fight.

"I do not know who are going because they are on their own spending personal money and using regular Philippine passports. Nobody is saying anything," Nograles said.

The absence of lawmakers had often caused the lack of quorum in the chamber and has delayed passage of bills.