Pacquiao denies he’s broke

MANILA, Philippines – Sen. Manny Pacquiao recently dismissed claims that he is suffering from financial problems that’s why he is forced to resume his career as a prizefighter.

Speaking to Eddie Alinea of PhilBoxing.com, Pacquiao admitted getting amused and at the same time annoyed by claims that he is “broke.”

“I've been fighting for the past 21 years and recipient of so many of what I consider as 'jokes' perhaps, to disarm me every time na lalaban ako. But, I'll tell you, itong birong ito ang pinaka-nakatatawa at nakaiinis (this joke that I’m broke is the funniest and most annoying)," said the Filipino icon.

Pacquiao even reminded his critics that he was the country’s richest congressman last year with a net worth of nearly P4 billion.

"Me, broke? Come on. Last year lang, as member of the Lower House, I was adjudged as the richest congressman based on the statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) I filed for year 2015. How can that happen? Nagastos ko na lahat ang halos P4 bilyon na kinita ko sa panahon ng pagbo-boksing ko (How can that happen? They mean I spent the almost P4 billion I earned from boxing?)” he continued.

Pacquiao is fighting again on November 5 in Las Vegas against WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas, claiming he misses boxing which is his primary means of livelihood. The boxer said he uses part of his fight purses to help his countrymen.

"As a congressman, everybody must have already known that I have been helping so many of my constituents in their needs, most of them financial assistance, out of my own pocket," he added.

Apart from earning millions in his storied career, the General Santos City-based southpaw figured in boxing’s richest fight ever – pocketing around $150 million against Floyd Mayweather Jr. last year.

Pacquiao maintained that he has enough money to secure the future of his family.

"All of my wealth, of course, came from boxing na naipon ko at ni Jinkee, my wife. Truth is, an I'm not bragging, sa mga kinita ko at ng mga negosyo, hindi na kamin magugutom sa mga nalalabi pa ng buhay namin (with all my earnings and businesses, my family and I will not go hungry for the rest of our lives)," he insisted.

"The future of our five children have also been secured, including yung mga ipanganganganak pa (even those of my children who have yet to be born)," he even joked.