HE MAY have given a fiery testimony about his transformation from a vice-laden sports celebrity to a born-again Christian, but Sarangani Representative Emmanuel ?Manny? Pacquiao did not give a categorical statement on his take on the controversy surrounding the now shaky Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) issue as a Mindanao lawmaker when asked by reporters after a religious gathering at the Pelaez Sports Center in Cagayan de Oro City last Saturday, February 14.
The BBL is a mechanism set by the National Government aimed at redefining the autonomy that will be granted to the Bangsamoro people to replace the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm).
During his 33-minute testimony as guest of the National Bible Celebration in Northern Mindanao attended by several Christian denominations, Pacquiao shared to the thousands of people gathered how he went from sleeping on the street with just a carton to lie on to becoming an international boxing champion and a guy who almost has everything.
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The gathering was organized by the Praying Hearts Unity in Christ, Cagayan de Oro Oro Evangelical Ministers Association, Misamis Oriental Ministerial Groups, among others.
He also shared how his fame and fortune had lured him into a world of drugs, alcohol, gambling and women, and how his dream one night made him abandon all that.
BBL stance
But when he was asked by reporters on his stance on the BBL in light of the Mapasano, Maguindanao incident, he just blurted out ?investigation is ongoing,? without actually answering whether he is for the continuation of the BBL deliberation or not.
According to news reports that came out recently, some members of the House of Representatives have expressed their withdrawal of support to the passage of the BBL after the bloody clash in Mamapasano that killed 44 members of the Philippine National Police?s Special Action Force, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) combatants, five Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) militias, and seven civilians on January 25, 2015.
After answering three questions in less than 60 minutes, Pacquiao then left the stage to shake hands and pose for photos with the crowd.
Disappointed
A few journalists covering the event said they were disappointed by how the lawmaker did not allow enough time to face the media and answer questions posed to him as a congressman.
?I was dismayed,? said radio field reporter Menzi Montes. ?I had to endure the heat and the crowd just to interview Pacquiao but he barely spoke to the media who patiently waited for him.?
Because of what happened, Montes said she was not able to make a comprehensive report on the boxer?s visit.
?It could have been a good story as it was a rare opportunity to interview him (Pacquiao) since he rarely comes to the city,? she added.
Crowd glad to see Pacman
If the members of the press were dissatisfied with Pacquiao?s brief interaction with them, the crowd, however, were more than glad of the boxer?s visit.
Naomi Sumalpong, 62, from Santa Cruz 2, Barangay Lapasan, can barely see but her blindness didn?t deter her from going to the venue.
A seamstress for decades, Sumalpong said her livelihood was what sent her four children to school, all of them now professionals.
?Ang iyang kinabuhi nahimong inspirasyon sa kadaghanan. Kung gipanalanginan siya, mahimo nga kita pud (His life is an inspiration to everyone. If he is blessed, we can also be),? she told Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro.
Pastor Nasalli Cornelio Silava, one of the organizers, said that based on the Pelaez Sports Center management, more than 20,000 people had attended the activity from all over the region, including guests from Bohol, General Santos City, and Davao areas.
