Lawmakers take up cudgels for Pacquiao, demand that Bieber apologize

Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao may have gotten over his stunning knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, but some of his colleagues are still not in the mood for levity, especially coming from singer Justin Bieber.

Seven members of the House of Representatives on Monday filed a resolution demanding a public apology from the Canadian pop star over “distasteful comments” he made following Pacquiao’s defeat.

If Bieber, 18, won’t apologize, the lawmakers want him declared “persona non grata” in the Philippines.

“As his colleagues in this august body, [we believe] it is incumbent upon us to demand an apology from Mr. Justin Bieber lest we declare him persona non grata,” read House Resolution No. 2962.

Led by Yacap party-list Rep. Carol Lopez, the representatives were incensed over pictures posted by Bieber, all mocking Pacquiao after he was knocked out cold by Marquez in the sixth round of their recent fight.

One meme superimposed an image of a falling Pacquiao just after Marquez connected with a short right hand, on a photograph of Michael Jackson doing his signature leaning dance move.

Another picture showed an unconscious Pacquiao being “consoled” by Simba, a character in the Disney animated movie “The Lion King.”

Lopez and her colleagues said there was nothing funny about Bieber’s meme, noting that the singer was “a clear supporter” of the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr., regarded as the world’s top pound-for-pound boxer. He once joined the American boxer in his ring walk.

“He has nothing to gain fighting Pacquiao. Floyd has never in his professional career lost a fight and Pacquiao lost his last two fights,” they quoted Bieber as saying.

In assailing Bieber, the congressmen brought up his concert in Manila earlier this year. They said the singer “obviously gained financially from the outcome of his concert in this beloved country of the Honorable Pacquiao.” Christian V. Esguerra