MANILA, Philippines – Malaca?ang wished Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao good luck in his fight against Joshua Clottey in Arlington, Texas this weekend and advised him to be on the look out for “dirty tricks” of his Ghanaian opponent.
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Gary Olivar also suggested that the 31-year old Filipino boxing idol to forget for the moment his local political fight and other worries once he steps inside the ring and face Clottey.
Pacquiao has entered the political arena and is seeking to win the congressional race in the lone district of Saranggani province against a well-entrenched clan. While close to President Arroyo, he opted to run under the party of opposition Senator and presidential candidate Manuel “Manny” Villar.
“We fully expect that Manny will win again,” Olivar told a news briefing at the Palace. “We just hope that he would not be hurt much by the dirty tricks expected from Mr. Clottey.”
He said the administration remains supportive of Pacquiao even if he sided with the opposition in his foray into politics.
“Manny is first of all a Filipino we can be proud of and a national treasure. Politics is secondary,” Olivar said.
