MANILA, Philippines?Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. on Thursday said that the House of Representatives will not mind if Saranggani Representative Manny Pacquiao?s role as legislator takes a backseat this time as he begins training for a boxing bout in November.
Even when out of the hall of Congress and in the boxing ring, Belmonte said he believed Pacquiao is still doing the nation an important service.
?It?s a terrific thing and I don?t think anybody will ever blame Manny for being absent at that time,? Belmonte said, but added that the boxing champ-turned-politician will be recorded absent from the sessions.
The House leader said that even when Pacquiao does not show up in sessions, ?he is doing great service to the country nonetheless.?
Pacquiao, a first-termer in the chamber, has been religiously attending the Monday-Wednesday sessions since the 15th Congress opened in July 26. He has delivered two privilege speeches ? on the poverty in his hometown and how he intends to solve it, and a piece against human trafficking.
He left for the US over the weekend to start training for his bout with Mexican Antonio Margarito. But he is expected to return to the country before his formal training that will start on September 20.
Pacquiao is one of the vice chairpersons of the committee on youth and sports.
