MANILA, Philippines – Pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao avoided it like a left hook coming from his American challenger Shane Mosley.
When asked about how he and his wife, Jinkee were managing the growth of their family amid a published report that the latter was using birth control pills, the Saranggani lawmaker replied:
“You know, in reality, even if the RH (reproductive health) bill has not yet been passed, many people are already using condoms or (birth pills) so why do we still need to pass it when people are already using them?” said Pacquiao in Filipino in a press conference with the bishops, on Tuesday.
Clad in a dark blue suit matched with a purple tie, coincidentally the color adopted by staunch RH advocates, Pacquiao lunched with officials of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines on Tuesday to express his full support to the Church in countering the RH measure.
“This tie has nothing to do with the issue… actually my wife prepared this for me,” said Pacquiao drawing laughter from reporters who pointed out the oversight to him.
The world-class boxing champion and lawmaker confidently said he could get away with it since he was already known in Congress as among those outspoken against the legislative measure that has sought to promote artificial birth control methods among Filipino couples.
Pacquaio has expressed his opposition to the use of artificial birth control methods, believing the latter to go against the will of God. “God said, ‘go forth and multiply,’ he did not say ‘go and just have one or two children,'” he said.
The boxing icon has urged couples to control their sexual urges through abstinence and by following the natural family planning method.
He said there would not have been a Manny Pacquiao if his parents, who were poor and had no jobs, used artificial birth methods. Pacquiao is the third child in a brood of four.
Pacquiao has four children with his wife Jinkee, who had been earlier quoted in a published report to be using birth control pills as she wished not to have another child after their youngest, Queenie.
In reiterating his stand against the RH bill, Pacquiao said the country’s big population must not be blamed for the plight of poor Filipinos. “We should blame corruption because the money that is supposed to help the poor goes to the pockets of officials who are already rich,” he said.
He also called on his millions of fans across the country to rally behind the Church and follow not any man’s command but God’s.
“Sundin natin ang utos ng Diyos, hindi ang utos ng tao (Let’s follow the order of God, not the order of man),” he said, drawing an applause from the audience, mostly lay people who provided for Tuesday’s hearty lunch and arranged the lawmaker and boxing icon’s meeting with the bishops.
Sharing the table with Pacquiao were CBCP president Tandag Bishop Nereo Odchimar, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Bishops Ramon Villena, Pablo Virgilio David, Arturo Bastes, Leondardo Medroso, Gerardo Alminaza, Emmanuel Cabajar, Romulo Valles, Honesto Ongtioco and Msgr. Juanito Figura.
All were members of the CBCP Permanent Council, which convened on Tuesday for its usual quarterly meeting.
“We are happy to have him with us, that he came on his own accord to be one with us and to assure us that he is with us in this fight, to defend human life,” Odchimar addressed the press conference that followed after the lunch.
Odchimar said Pacquiao’s promotion for the “culture of life” was a big boost to the Church in disputing the bill “because people listen to him.” “[And] we welcome anybody who is as popular as Manny or an ordinary person who would promote the value of life.”
During the press conference, Pacquiao doused speculations that President Aquino snubbed him upon his arrival from the United States because of their opposing views on the controversial family planning bill.
He said he was not taking it against Mr. Aquino, who failed to receive him at Malacañang following his victorious match against four-time world champion Mosley when he came back from the United States on Saturday.
“I understand that he has other important things to do that day and I would like to make it clear that my stand against RH bill doesn’t mean that I am opposing his government,” he said.
Pacquiao said he has been fully supporting government measures countering corruption.