MANILA, Philippines — Boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao, who single-handedly unifies a divided nation every time he conquers the boxing ring, saw first-hand how the Philippine Army leadership was informed of the siege in Makati City Thursday.
At an office at the Dipolog City airport in Zamboanga del Norte, Pacquiao was waiting for the Fokker F-27 flight back to Manila with Army chief Lieutenant General Alexander Yano and other Army officials when word about the siege spread.
At first, Pacquiao was busy sending text messages, occasionally looking up to listen to Yano, who had brought him to Sulu and Basilan for a troop visit last Wednesday.
When a 3G phone showed a video of the march of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, former Scout Ranger chief Brigadier General Danilo Lim, and Magdalo soldiers to Ayala Avenue, a curious Pacquiao watched it with Yano.
He also asked his aide for details of the incident.
“I’m sad that this happened,” Pacquiao told reporters.
He noted the irony that just a day before, he had visited the frontline soldiers in Jolo and in Basilan to show them his support, as well as the wounded soldiers who are recuperating at the Camp Navarro Hospital at the Western Mindanao Command in Zamboanga City.
“And then now, we hear this bad news. Sasama din ang loob mo (You’ll also feel bad),” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao urged the people to support the government and called for unity for the country’s sake.
