Sarangani mayors back Pacquiao vs suspension call

SARANGANI PROVINCE—The league of mayors of the province expressed support for boxing icon and lone Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao against calls to suspend him for absenteeism.

Mayor Victor James Yap of Glan town said the mayors also wanted to express gratitude to House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., who rejected calls to suspend Pacquiao initially made by Rene Saguisag, a former senator.

Yap, head of the mayors’ league of the province, said the mayors felt that by rejecting the call to suspend Pacquiao, the House leadership “did what is right and just.”

Earlier, Saguisag asked the House leadership to suspend Pacquiao for allegedly treating his legislative work as a “hobby or sideline.”

“Who is he to ask for the suspension of our own representative? He is not even a voter of Sarangani,” Yap said.

Yap said Pacquiao had not been remiss in his duty as representative of the province. He said that unlike other congressmen, who disappear following their election, Pacquiao is “always there every time we need him.”

“He’s not hiding from us,” the mayor said.

Yap said Pacquiao even spent his own money on government projects in his district, if official funds for the projects do not come on time.

The mayor listed what he said were Pacquiao’s achievements, including housing projects that would use land the boxer bought with personal funds.

In December, Pacquiao turned over 205 housing units to victims of natural calamities in Glan town. Currently, Pacquiao has seven housing and relocation projects in different areas in General Santos City and Sarangani all funded through his personal funds.

Yap said Pacquiao did not deserve the suspension as proposed by Saguisag to the House leadership.

In a recent interview, Pacquiao had told the Inquirer that he is spending P20 million a year of his personal money to give medical aid to his constituents. Aquiles Z. Zonio, Inquirer Mindanao