MANILA, Philippines — Boxing champ Manny Pacquiao may get knocked out by his opposition to the controversial reproductive health bill because he would be alienating the poor who would benefit from the measure, a labor group warned on Wednesday.
The Partido ng Manggawa, in a statement, said Pacquiao might not emerge a champ in the RH bill controversy.
The labor group also pointed out Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee’s different positions on the use of contraceptives.
“Pacquiao may not have been knocked out by questions about the contradiction between his position and his wife’s Jinkee’s use of the pill, but he will not survive a decision by the Filipino people on his fight against the RH bill. Survey after survey has shown the majority wanting access to reproductive health, among them birth control which Jinkee has the privilege of enjoying as a billionaire’s wife,” Miranda said.
PM insisted that the RH bill would benefit the poor.
“More or less 40 percent of the Philippine population are below the poverty line. These people, especially women, cannot afford having many children per the statement of the Church humans should go forth and multiple. The workers greatly admire Pacquiao for his boxing prowess, but he should keep in mind that his declaration as a Sarangani congressman has a big impact in the health and lives of women,” PM secretary-general Judy Ann Miranda said.
Reacting to Pacquiao’s support for the Catholic Church’s anti-RH position, Miranda said, “Insisting that Filipinos religiously follow the Catholic Church’s outmoded doctrine on family planning and contraception is a disregard for women’s universal right to reproductive health.”
Miranda said if the boxing champion really cared for the poor, he should help the Church combat poverty instead of giving expensive gifts.
“Why, Manny, will you and the Church shoulder the expenses and needs of the poor families if they follow this commandment? If you can afford to buy a P4-million bag for [your mother] Dionisia, these poor Filipinos, many of whom are your province mates cannot even afford to eat three meals a day, buy clothes and send their children to school,” Miranda said.
The labor leader appealed to Pacquiao to change his stand, adding, “We won’t ask balato (goodwill money) from your bout winnings and earnings from your commercials. The balato we ask is a space in your heart for the poor. We, especially the women, need your support.”