Pacquiao visits Aquino, offers support

By Maila Ager

MANILA, Philippines – World Boxing champion and now Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao visited Senator Benigno Aquino III in his home Tuesday night, a spokesman for the winning presidential candidate said Wednesday.

“Manny Pacquiao paid a courtesy call to Aquino at his home in Times street last night together with his wife Jinkee and his entourage. They talked about the situation in Sarangani and he expressed his support for the President as a member of the House [of Representatives],” said Edwin Lacierda.

Aquino, in a text message to INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, confirmed the meeting, saying, "We met last night."

It was Pacquiao who sought the meeting with Aquino, according to sources who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to media.

The first source said the meeting lasted for only less than an hour.

But during the meeting, the same source said, Pacquiao made no explanation or offered no apologies to Aquino as to why he supported his rival in the presidential race, Senator Manny Villar.

"Walang paliwanag kung bakit nag Villar o nagpaumanhin. It was a friendly meeting [He did not offer any explanation or apology as to why he supported Villar]," said the source.

During the campaign, Pacquiao came out with a television advertisement criticizing Aquino, saying "Laban ng Laban wala namang napatunayan [Always fighting but has not proven anything]."

But this issue, the source said, did not crop up in the meeting.

The second source confirmed Lacierda’s statement, saying the discussion was only about Pacquiao's concerns in his province.

"Nakikipagkaibigan lang siya [Pacquiao]...He's reaching out," said the first source.

Asked why Aquino entertained Pacquiao despite his support for Villar during the elections, the source said, "He's just very polite."

Article Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/nation/view/20100519-270907/Pacquiao-visits-Aquino-offers-support