[av_one_full first min_height=” vertical_alignment=” space=” custom_margin=” margin=’0px’ padding=’0px’ border=” border_color=” radius=’0px’ background_color=” src=” background_position=’top left’ background_repeat=’no-repeat’ animation=”]
[av_heading heading=’Bing, Greg: Las Vegas trip personal expense ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY MAE SINGUAY
[/av_heading]
[av_textblock size=” font_color=” color=”]
BACOLOD City – Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Rep. Greg Gasataya clarified that they used their personal money when they went to Las Vegas, Nevada to watch the boxing bout of Sen. Manny Pacquiao on Nov. 5.
Pacquiao defeated the American Jessie Vargas via unanimous decision at the Thomas and Mack Center and reclaimed the WBO welterweight belt in the 12-round fight televised in the Philippines on Nov. 6.
The Ombudsman is now investigating Director General Ronald dela Rosa, Philippine National Police chief, after learning that the boxer-turned-senator shouldered his trip to Las Vegas to witness the bout.
“I don’t think the Ombudsman would have any reason to investigate me,” Leonardia said.
He claimed Pacquiao chose him to be the latter’s Philippine flag bearer during the fight and has done so in his past fights.
“[It was] a matter of friendship between me and Pacquiao,” the mayor said, stressing that his perks were “personal.”
He stressed that he did not use government money for the Las Vegas trip.
“I have not spent a single centavo from Bacolod City government funds in any of my trips abroad, including my trip to [watch] Pacquiao,” he said.
Leonardia believes his trip would not be of public interest “as long as no government funds are involved.”
Meanwhile Gasataya stressed his trip abroad was his “personal expense”; no government money was used.
Aside from watching Pacquiao, the congressman said he and the mayor also met with Filipino-American groups and some investors./PN
[/av_textblock]
[/av_one_full]
