MANILA, Philippine — He may play a rebel in his upcoming movie, but boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, an Army reservist, was promoted to the next highest rank, a spokesman for the Philippine Army said Thursday.
Pacquiao was promoted to master sergeant from technical sergeant for “bringing distinct honor” to the Army and the country, after he defeated Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera again during their rematch in Las Vegas last Sunday via a unanimous decision, said Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres Jr.
In his self-produced solo movie “Anak ng Kumander,” Pacquiao portrays a rebel. His co-star, sexy actress Ara Mina, plays a reporter covering the conflict.
Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Hermogenes Esperon Jr. defended Pacquiao’s promotion, saying, “he deserved it.”
Esperon also said Pacquiao’s movie role would not affect his promotion.
“Well, let’s separate movies from real life. That’s purely acting,” the military chief told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo.
“That’s the fact of being in showbiz, sometimes you can be a very good person, but you are given a bad role? So don’t blame the guy for pursuing an artistic pursuit,” he said.
Pacquiao returned to yet another hero’s welcome in the capital on Thursday.
