MANILA, Philippines — President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo went on national TV Sunday to congratulate local boxing star Manny Pacquiao and two other compatriots who delivered stunning victories in the United States — a piece of good news amid months of political turmoil.
“The whole nation is celebrating Manny Pacquiao’s victory,” a beaming Arroyo said, adding “God heard my prayers for his victory because his fight was the fight of all Filipinos.”
Pacquiao, a 28-year-old southpaw from the southern Philippines, stopped Hector Velazquez of Tijuana, Mexico, by technical knockout in the sixth round of a scheduled 12-round super featherweight bout at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday.
Arroyo said she personally called Pacquiao to express her happiness.
A Filipino American from Hawaii, Brian Viloria, knocked out defending champion Eric Ortiz of Mexico in the first round to win the WBC light flyweight championship and a third compatriot, Rey Bautista, also won at the Staples Center.
Arroyo has been hounded by allegations of vote-rigging and other crimes in her worst crisis. The House of Representatives, which is dominated by her allies, threw out all three impeachment complaints against her last week but opponents vowed to continue protests and calls for her resignation.
