Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon Jr. yesterday hailed the victory of Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao over Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera, saying his win has inspired soldiers to accomplish their mission.
Esperon said in a phone interview that the AFP declared an ?informal ceasefire? to give soldiers time to watch the rematch between Pacquiao and Barrera, but despite this, he said the troops did not let their guard down.
?The ceasefire has been terminated. It?s now time to attack!? Esperon said.
The AFP top brass said they found inspiration from the fight, saying it is not only in sports that Filipinos should have the determination to achieve victory, but also in most of life?s struggles.
Life in various major military camps in Metro Manila was momentarily put to a halt as the Filipino boxing champ pounded Barrera in their 12-round WBC International superfeatherweight championship bout held at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Esperon declared the ?informal ceasefire? before the fight and terminated it just after Pacquiao won the rematch.
At the Army headquarters at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano led soldiers in watching the fight on the big screen especially set up for the fight.
Expecting a knockout, Army troopers and their dependents who gathered at the Army gymnasium to witness the fight went home proud after the country?s boxing icon demolished the Mexican fighter.
The Navy headquarters at Fort Abad along Roxas Boulevard also had the same festive atmosphere, with the Navy personnel gathering together to cheer for Pacquiao.
?Barrera is also good and strong that?s why there was no knockout,? said Yano, adding that a second-rate fighter would not have lasted the 12-round bout.
Each time Pacquiao hit Barrera with a combination of punches, the troops yelled, applauded and urged the General Santos boxer to finish his Mexican foe.
But the foiled expectation of a knockout failed to dampen soldiers? spirits because as fighters, they, too, knew who won the fight when the final bell rang.
?It?s without doubt that Manny won the fight, only it seems that there was something lacking in his movements. Somehow it looked like he was just half as good as when he fought Eric Morales,? one Army officer said.
Yano himself was expecting a knockout but said Barrera was in good shape, aside from being also a top-rated fighter.
It?s quiet in Cotabato City
Police have not recorded a single crime in Cotabato City, not even a simple traffic violation in its 37 constituent barangays for the whole duration of the much-awaited rematch.
?Cotabato City was so peaceful during the fight. Muslims and Christians watched Pacquiao?s fight peacefully in their homes, in restaurants, and in stores where TV monitors were put up for the fight,? said Senior Inspector Wally Kasuyo, spokesman of the Cotabato City police.
Many residents, however, complained of the shortage of public utility vehicles on the streets during the airing of the fight.
Lt. Col. Julieto Ando, spokesman of the Army?s 6th Infantry Division, said it was peaceful in their jurisdiction.
?Soldiers watched the match in their detachments, in their camps. I believe members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front also watched it,? Ando said in a text message.
The 6th ID covers hostile areas where the MILF maintains guerrilla enclaves.
Metro Manilans jubilant
In Pasay City, residents filled the Cuneta Astrodome to watch the fight on a wide screen put up by the local officials.
The residents, who paid P60 to witness the rematch, were already excited when R&B singer Kyla belted out the country?s national anthem ?Lupang Hinirang,? but it was when Pacquiao started hitting Barrera early in the round when the capacity-filled arena went into a frenzy.
Since there were no crimes to attend to, personnel of the Southern Police District merely stayed in their stations.
Major thoroughfares in Metro Manila including EDSA, Roxas Boulevard and Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard were visibly traffic-free during the bout.
In Para?aque City, Mayor Florencio Bernabe treated his constituents to a free public viewing of the fight at the city hall and took advantage of the event to raise funds for abused women and children. ? With Jaime Laude, Eva Visperas, John Unson, Michael Punongbayan and Jose Rodel Clapano
