A group of congressmen is skipping the special session called to take up the controversial bill on the value-added tax to be at ringside for Manny Pacquiao?s fight in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The lawmakers are either on their way to Las Vegas or already there.
Pacquiao faces the Mexican Erik Morales in a much-awaited showdown for the World Boxing Council?s super-featherweight title at the MGM Grand hotel.
Congress is supposed to meet on Friday and Monday to work on the VAT bill before it breaks for the Holy Week. But at Thursday?s session at the House of Representatives, fewer than 20 congressmen showed up.
The legislators who flew to Las Vegas were Senators Lito Lapid and Ramon Revilla Jr., Representatives Monico Puen?tevella of Bacolod, chair of the ?House Committee on Youth and Sports, and Rodolfo Albano 3rd of Isabela.
They left Tuesday with other Philippine officials led by President Arroyo?s husband, Mike Arroyo, Games and Amusement Board chair Eric Buhain and Mayor Pedro Acharon of General Santos City.
Also Las Vegas-bound are Caloocan City Rep. Luis Asistio, Davao Oriental?s Joel Almario, chair of the House Committee on Games and Amusement, Luis Bersamin Jr. and Rodolfo Plaza of Agusan del Norte.
A senior lawmaker who did not want to be named and who is staying behind frowned at the junket.
He said that although Pac?quiao needs moral support from Philippine officials, his colleagues should have first finished their legislative work.
