MANILA — Taking his match from the boxing ring to Congress may seem like a walk in the park for Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, as he proved why he deserves to be called “The People?s Champ”.
Despite his numerous absences in the House of Representatives’ sessions, the eight-division world champion and lone district representative of Sarangani province has authored seven measures and co-authored 32 bills, according to the legislative information system.
The neophyte lawmaker is the vice chair of three House panels, including the committees on millennium development goals, poverty alleviation, and youth and sports development. He also holds 12 other committee memberships for the majority coalition.
Promising better lives for the people of Sarangani, Pacquiao filed House Bill No. 2379, which seeks to establish a tertiary provincial hospital in his province, to be named as the Sarangani Provincial Hospital. The proposed legislation is pending with the House committee on health.
In his first privilege speech, Pacquiao said education, livelihood, and health would remain his top priorities.
“I know what it feels like without a home, without food. I know what it’s like to go hungry. That was me for the first-half of my life,” he said.
The pound-for-pound king also filed measures that would prohibit cellphone companies from sending unsolicited material to its subscribers via short message service (SMS), establish breast care centers in every region nationwide, and institute policies to eliminate trafficking in persons, especially women and children. All of these are still pending in the committee level.
Pacquiao also impressed his colleagues for debating with Minority Leader Edcel Lagman on the controversial reproductive health bill.
Although heavily criticized in social networking sites Twitter and Facebook for what seemed to be a scripted line of questioning, Pacquiao managed to gather applause from the critics of the RH measure — especially from leaders of the Catholic Church.
Pacquiao, fourth among six siblings and has four children, said the RH bill would not solve poverty and opposed the budget to be allocated for the implementation of the measure.
He also supported House Bill 13, otherwise known as “An act providing for the safety and protection of the unborn child” filed by Paranaque Representative Roilo Golez.
While he worked as a legislator, Pacquiao also managed to emerge victorious in two boxing matches during the first regular session of the House.
Pacquiao had to miss plenary sessions for training and press tours on his successful bouts against Antonio Margarito in November 2010 and Sugar Shane Mosley last May. Despite his absences, Pacquiao received his full salary and allowance as a member of the House. After all, he is representing the Philippines.
“Kung absent ka dahil may date ka, hindi okay iyun (If you miss session days because you have a romantic date, it not okay). Kung absent ka dahil you uphold the dignity of the country, walang problema doon (If you miss session days because you uphold the dignity of the country, well, it’s not a problem),? House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. says in Pacquiao?s defense.
But Pacquiao would not go unscathed from controversies even while training for his boxing matches — especially when former Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez was a subject of an impeachment case.
Last March, the House impeached Gutierrez with a vote of 212-46 and four abstentions.
Pacquiao was not missed from the impeachment voting after he went on Twitter posting in his account “I vote NO! and I can give my explanation thanks” and “I’m watching impeachment trial very interesting topic good night everyone thanks”.
He also replied to a Twitter user, @momblogger, “e di mag reklamo ka doon sa lolo mo hahahaha thanks”.
After getting negative responses for his tweets, Pacquiao had to throw in the towel saying “Sorry everyone but hanggang dito nalang delete ko na account ko thank you very much to all your support”.
For his boxing victories, Pacquiao has been the recipient of congressional honors, including the Congressional Medal of Distinction and the Quezon Service Cross.
Dealing with the House media also wasn’t all easy even for Pacquiao.
In December 2010, Pacquiao’s staff and security aides were involved in a squabble with a reporter and television cameramen during a press conference, which the congressman organized.
While the cameramen were trying to get a shot of Pacquiao, the boxer?s bodyguard prevented them and even tried to draw his weapon in front of the reporters, a move that didn’t sit too well among reporters.
Whatever the people of Sarangani feel about the incident and his tweets, one thing is sure: they will nevertheless be expecting more from “The People’s Champ” as he enters another year in Congress when the second regular session starts July 25. (Sunnex)
