MANILA: Manny ?Pacman? Pacquiao announced he is supporting the country?s Catholic bishops in opposing the controversial reproductive health or family planning bill in his capacity both as a boxing icon and as a member of the Philippine House of Representatives.
?I am against the bill because I have many siblings,? Pacquiao told a press conference.
?And also on condom, I?m not in favour of its use.?
Pacquiao has two sisters and four brothers and has four children of his own with wife Jinkee ? two boys and two girls.
He bared his stand after the House conferred on him on Monday the chamber?s highest award, the Congressional Medal of Distinction, for bagging his unprecedented eighth world boxing championship in as many weight divisions.
Pacquiao pummeled Mexican brawler Antonio Margarito in Dallas, Texas on Nov.14 to win the vacant World Boxing Council?s super welterweight title and stamp his mark as the world?s best pound-for-pound fighter today.
In supporting the bishops, Pacquiao pointed out there is nothing in the Bible that says that people should limit the number of their children.
?In the first place, the Lord said, ?Go to the world to multiply? and not ?go to the world and have two kids?,? he argued.
Ironically, Pacquiao bared his stand as he sat beside House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte who earlier announced he would submit the family planning bill for voting during the plenary session of the House where it has been pending for the past eight years due to strong opposition from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
