26 congressmen given authority to watch Pacquiao fight

MANILA, Philippines—A total of 26 congressmen have been granted authority to travel to the United States when their colleague Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquio defends his welterweight title against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on November 13.

The office of House Secretary General Marilyn Babarua-Yap released on Thursday a list of congressmen with travel authority to the US in November. It was not sure, however, whether all of them will proceed to Las Vegas to watch the fight.

Manila Rep. Amado Bagatsing confirmed his attendance at the fight.

“Yes, dito na ako (Yes, I’m here already),” Bagatsing said in a text message to the Inquirer.

Citizens Battle against Corruption (Cibac) Party-list Rep. Sherwin Tugna said he left for California Wednesday to visit his US-based wife and daughter but expressed a desire to watch the fight.

“About Pacquaio, I’m trying to and making arrangements to have a ticket. In case I can get one, I might go to Vegas on Saturday to watch,” Tugna said in a text message.

Yacap Party-list Rep. Carol Jayne Lopez also confirmed that she would be watching the fight to support Pacquiao.

“Expected naman ako ng lahat eh kasi (I’m expected to watch the fight because) I’m a friend of Pacquiao but I do have congressional business in US,” she said in a text message.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone, who is in the US from November 6 to 13, said he was still not sure whether he could make it to Las Vegas.

Other congressmen now in the US are Nueva Ecija Rep. Rodolfo Antonino (October 27 to November 19), Batangas Rep. Tomas Apacible (November 13-15), Pangasinan Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas (November 6-13), Manila Rep. Benjamin Asilo (November 2-21), ALE Party-list Rep. Catalina Bagasina  (October 29-November 13), Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian Balindong (November 3-9), Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez (November 8-15), Davao del Sur Rep. Marc Douglas Cagas (November 8-16), Zamboanga del Sur Rep. Aurora Ceriles (November 3-25), Quezon City Rep. Vincent Crisologo (October 25-November 13);

Cavite Rep. Antonio Ferrer (November 11-18), Surigao del Sur Rep. Florencio Garay (November 3-13), Ang Kasangga Party-list Rep. Teodorico Haresco (November 5-15), Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy (November 3-19), Zamboanga del Norte Rep. Seth Frederick Jalosjos (November 8-15), Caloocan City Rep. Oscar Malapitan (November 10-19), Davao City Rep. Karlo Alexei Nograles (November 10-14), Misamis Occidental Rep. Loreto Leo Ocampo (October 25-November 17);

Lanao del Sur Rep. Mohammed Hussein Pangandaman (November 9-19), Bohol Rep. Rene Relampagos (November 6-10), North Cotabato Rep. Jesus Sacdalan (November 2-13), Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez (November 7-21), Taguig City Rep. Sigfrido Tinga (November 5-16), Nueva Ecija Rep. Czarina Umali (November 9-18) and Misamis Oriental Rep. Peter Unabia (November 10-21).

Six more congressmen who were also granted authority to travel to the US in November either have returned already to the Philippines or will be returning before the fight.