Cebuanos caught up, mixed in Pacman bout

Except for a minor feud that involved former Capitol consultant Byron Garcia, Cebu was generally peaceful for the duration of the Pacquiao-Marquez title bout telecast yesterday.

Officials of Metro Cebu were left shaking their heads over the bout’s outcome, saying they believed Juan Manuel Marquez could have won over Manny Pacquiao, the Saranggani legislator dubbed the “People’s Champ.”

“I was alarmed by Marquez’s pacing. He played well in his counter punches considering his age. Manny’s killer instinct was not there, unlike other fights. I even thought it was a tie,” said Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district.

He said he was relieved when referee Michael Buffer announced the scores confirming Pacquiao’s victory.

“It’s very hard to judge when you favor one fighter. My bias is I want Manny to win but the other guy was good,” Osmeña said.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, who watched the bout with Osmeña at the Radisson Blu Hotel, said he thought Pacquiao lost the fight, an observation supposedly shared by other viewers in the establishment.

“I did not see Pacquiao throw powerful punches. The judges may have favored him since he was the defending champion,” he said.

Young said he is still happy that Pacquiao won the fight but added that Marquez deserved a rematch.

Tony Aldequer, founder and chairman of the ALA Promotions, said the fight could have been a draw.

He said Marquez, being the challenger, should have been more aggressive against Pacquiao.

Aldeguer said the scores of the two judges were fair, but the third judge who scored the fight 116-112 was too much.

In Talisay City, a security guard of the Corona del Mar subdivision in Pooc, Talisay City asked for police assistance after Garcia reportedly ordered the removal of a satellite dish installed by a cable firm at the clubhouse for the Pacquiao fight..

Byron, younger brother of Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, confirmed in an interview that Filinvest officials complained about the removal of the satellite dish.

He said neither the cable company nor Filinvest asked permission to install the dish from the homeowners association.

Byron said he told the cable company that they can get the dish in his house anytime.

In Cebu City, the City Traffic Division said traffic volume between 12 noon to 2 pm was down by 75 percent because of the Pacquiao-Marquez fight.

Msgr. Esteban Binghay, episcopal vicar, said parishioners were in full attendance for the 10:30 a.m Mass at the Lourdes parish in Punta Princesa prior to the match.

He said he even asked the people to pray for Pacquiao’s victory during his homily.

Fr. Tito Soquino, OSA of the Basilica del Sto Nino said attendance was sparse during the 11 to 12 Mass, only to pick up at 5:30 p.m.

Senior Supt. Melvin Buenafe, Cebu City police chief, said the roads in Cebu City were “quiet” during the fight.

He said their conference room was filled with cops and officials who watched the bout on a huge screen projector. Food and drinks were served, he said.

Senior Supt. Patrocinio Comendador, Cebu provincial police chief, said the province was “generally peaceful” for the duration of the fight. Soldiers of the Central Command watched the bout in their airconditioned auditorium. /Jhunnex Napallacan, Edison delos Angeles and Rhea Ruth V. Rosell, Correspondents with Correspondents Carmel Loise Matus and Norman V. Mendoza and Reporter Candezer R. Mongaya