Congressmen using own funds to watch Pacman

MANILA, Philippines - Leaders of the House of Representatives said yesterday no member of the chamber would be watching the Nov. 13 fight between Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and Mexican Antonio Margarito at taxpayers’ expense.

“Let me put it this way – people who are traveling on government money, hardly any,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said.

“I am happy to say that they simply wanted to get travel authority so that they can facilitate their travel documents, but nobody is asking for money to pay for their fare or other expenses,” he said.

He said those who would watch the Pacquiao-Margarito bout would be using their own funds.

He added that he has been very strict in allowing members to officially travel abroad, even for parliamentary conferences.

Several avid fans of Pacquiao and his Mindanao colleagues are reportedly planning to fly to Texas to watch his match with Margarito. Pacquiao is a member of the House representing the province of Sarangani.

For his part, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II said House members who would go to Texas would be recorded absent.

“Even Pacman will be absent because his fight cannot be considered an official business of a member of Congress,” he said.

He said if his colleagues leave Texas next Sunday after the Saturday fight, they would be here Tuesday morning.

“They will be missing the Monday session,” he added.

Responding to questions, Gonzales said he would not know how many of his colleagues are planning to watch the Pacquiao-Margarito fight.

“But there are not many because we have sessions and we are scheduled to take up the proposed 2011 budget on third reading. I am sure that we will have an overwhelming number of members present for the sessions,” he said.

In the previous Congress, the largest group that watched Pacquiao in Texas or Las Vegas, Nevada numbered fewer than 40. House leaders did not have to worry about attendance.

They were more worried about the quorum whenever then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo traveled abroad, since she had a sizable group of favorite traveling congressional companions.

In one visit to the United States and another trip to Europe, Mrs. Arroyo had in tow more than 50 House members.

She is now a congresswoman representing the second district of Pampanga.