AFP on alert; PNP expects lull in crime during Pacquiao fight

The military yesterday vowed to remain vigilant during the bout of champion boxer Manny Pacquiao on Sunday even if hardly any violent incidents were recorded during his previous fights.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), on the other hand, is expecting a lull in crime incidents

on the day of the fight.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesman Col. Arnulfo Burgos Jr. said soldiers on duty on Sunday would remain at their posts and would

have to settle for watching replays of the fight.

“The AFP will not let its guard down on the

day Manny Pacquiao defends his WBO (World

Boxing Organization) welterweight championship title against Timothy Bradley,” Burgos said in a statement.

“Heightened vigilance will be maintained and security operations will go on as usual while some of the off-duty personnel will have a free live viewing of the much-anticipated boxing match,” he added.

Burgos said soldiers on duty would not leave

their respective posts to ensure the safety of the

public.

Pacquiao, a Sarangani representative, is an

Army reservist with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

He was bestowed the rank of lieutenant colonel last year amid criticisms that he wasn’t qualified since he did not finish college.

The military’s major services will host free viewings of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight for offduty soldiers and their dependents.

AFP chief Gen. Jessie Dellosa will join the

soldiers who will watch the bout in the Camp

Aguinaldo General Headquarters in Quezon City.

“As a sign of support, we have opened several venues for free viewing inside our camps,” Dellosa said.

He said Pacquiao’s “strong will and determination continue to inspire our soldiers who continue to risk their lives in protecting our people

and upholding our sovereignty.”

Aside from Camp Aguinaldo, free screenings will also be held at the AFP General Headquarters Gym and Grandstand in Quezon City; Air Force Headquarters gym in Pasay; Army Wellness Center, Army Officers’ Clubhouse, and Army General Hospital in Taguig; the Navy Officers’ Club in Manila, and the Naval Base multipurpose hall in Cavite.

All six naval forces in La Union, Legaspi, Puer

to Princesa City, Cebu, Zamboanga, and Davao will also allow their troops to watch the bout.

Soldiers who are confined at the AFP Medical Center on V. Luna Street in Quezon City will

also have the chance to witness the match at the hospital’s auditorium.

Field units are also expected to open their camps to soldiers and their dependents who wish to watch the fight.

PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome will lead some 1,500 PNP personnel stationed

at the PNP national headquarters in watching

the free screening of the fight live at the PNP

Multi-Purpose Center where the PNP’s personal insurance provider, Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund (PSMBFI), has set up a wide screen that will telecast the fight via live feed.

Meanwhile, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Episcopal Commission

on Family and Life (ECFL) executive secretary

Fr. Melvin Castro said Pacquiao and wife Jinkee should not let their children watch the fight because it is a violent sport and might have psy

chological effect on the youngsters.

Pacquiao brought his kids to Las Vegas to

watch his fight live. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe,

Evelyn Macairan