JOLO, Sulu ? Given the opportunity, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao wants to become a full-time soldier and join the troops in the frontlines fighting the Abu Sayyaf.
A reserve Army master sergeant, Pacquiao made known his intentions of joining his comrades in arms during a lunch with top officials led by Army chief Lt. Gen. Alexander Yano here.
?Gusto ko nga sumama sa operations sa bundok (I want to join operations in the mountains),? Pacquiao said.
Standing at the back of an Army Humvee vehicle in a motorcade, Pacquiao made a surprise visit to the troops at the Army?s 104th headquarters here.
The boxing champion also took the opportunity to exhort the troops to focus on their mission in fighting the Abu Sayyaf.
Pacquiao is slated to face another Mexican sensation Juan Manuel Marquez in March next year in Las Vegas ? a much awaited rematch between the equally well-respected fighters after the people?s champ recently demolished Mexican legend Jose Antonio Barrera.
Yano, however, is not about to give in to Pacquiao?s request.
Yano told Msgt. Pacquiao that he is already fulfilling his duty in rallying the soldiers to fight terrorism.
He said Pacquiao?s visit in the frontlines as well as his Christmas gifts of a black T-shirt for each soldier here with his printed name in front and words of encouragement printed at the back, are more than enough.
Arriving via an Air Force Fokker plane, Pacquiao was even given the chance to act as a co-pilot of the plane for several minutes.
Pacquiao and Yano immediately proceeded to the Army headquarters in Busbus to the rousing welcome of heavily armed military personnel.
Introduced as the people?s champion by Col. Mark Supnet of the 104th Brigade, Pacquiao, in his Army uniform, rallied the troops to carry on their mission.
?Fighting is just like boxing, we have to keep ourselves physically fit and discipline to win the battle. But unlike boxing when you are hit you can still stand and counter but not when you are hit by enemy, it?s either you are dead or wounded,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao though warned that unlike in boxing where a boxer can easily recover after getting hit, there is no second chance in the fight against an armed adversary like the Abu Sayyaf.
Joining Pacquiao in his visit here is another boxing champion, Army Sgt. Harry Ta?amor, the only Filipino who recently qualified in the US prequalifying light-flyweight match to represent the country in the Beijing Olympics next year.
While Pacquiao took center stage, Ta?amor, a silver medalist in the just concluded pre-qualifying boxing match in the US, was introduced by Yano to the troops to further boost their morale.
Yano also told his men not to pay much attention to Pacquiao?s unshaven appearance. He said the boxing champion is excused since the beard was necessary for his upcoming movie.
Pacquiao then proceeded to Mt. Bud Datu in Indanan town, the headquarters of the Army 35th Infantry Battalion.
At Bud Datu, Pacquio and Yano distributed gifts to troops in the form of jogging gear, T-shirts and calendars.
There were some American soldiers who mingled with locals in their effort to have that handshake with Pacquiao.
It was gathered that local officials in Sulu hastily forwarded a request to Army authorities for Pacquiao to be seen by the local residents.
?His presence here made a big difference. Pacquiao is our idol,? said a Muslim integree-soldier, one of the hundreds of troops securing Pacquiao?s motorcade.
From Jolo, the entourage flew to Zamboanga for a brief helicopter ride to Basilan. Pacquiao and Yano are scheduled to be in Dipolog City this morning for a brief motorcade before flying back to Manila, – with Roel Pare?o
