Pacquiao gives cash, relief goods to Sarangani storm victims

Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

GLAN, Sarangani Province, Philippines — There was none of the usual hero’s welcome for world boxing champion and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao who arrived at the General Santos City airport via private plane at 10 a.m. Sunday.

Still, people lined up to see him. This time, however, the boxing champ was giving out relief assistance to those who were affected by the flashfloods that hit this town last week.

From the airport in General Santos City, Pacquiao’s convoy of more than 20 vehicles proceeded to this town to distribute relief goods and cash assistance.

He gave out an initial one sack of rice and P10,000 cash to every family directly affected by the calamity.

Pacquiao also pledged to purchase lots for the relocation of all displaced families in Glan.

“All these are coming from my personal pockets. My gifts for you from the proceeds of my recent fight with Timothy Bradley,” he said laughing.  (Pacquiao lost in a controversial split decision in Las Vegas the other week.)

Pacquiao said he couldn’t wait for funds from government because “government bureaucracy grinds so slow.”

He could not say yet how long he would be staying here.  “Maybe three to five days. I just cut short my family vacation to help my constituents who were affected by the calamity,” he said.

Before his homecoming, he said, he explained to his children his responsibility as public official.

“I told my children I have to rush home to help the people in my district. This is part of my responsibility as a public servant,” he said.