BY ADRIAN STEWART CO and PRINCE GOLEZ
MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte congratulated Manny Pacquiao for defeating Lucas Matthysse via technical knockout to claim the WBA welterweight title.
Duterte watched the match at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, sitting beside Malaysian Prime Minister Mahatir Mohamad. He called the eight-division world boxing champion as “one of the greatest boxers of all time.”
He thanked Pacquiao, also a senator, for “giving us pride and bringing the Filipino nation together once more.”
“You have proven time and again that you are not just a public servant but one of the greatest boxers of all time. This win will surely cement, yet again, your position and legacy in boxing’s Hall of Fame,” Duterte said in a statement.
“May you continue to inspire Filipinos not only in boxing but also in the public service,” added the President.
Duterte’s son Sebastian and Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go was with the chief executive.
“Thank you to my President, Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who is watching this fight,” Pacquiao said. “Thank God for this victory. This is dedicated to all the Filipino people, the whole country.”
His fellow senators also commended Pacquiao, who earned his first knockout victory since 2009 when he beat Miguel Cotto.
Nancy Binay regarded Pacquiao as “our nation’s pride and joy.”
“Ipinakita sa atin ng ating Pambansang Kamao kung paano muling bumangon at kung paano mapagtagumpayan ang mga balakid sa kabila ng maraming hamon sa buhay,” she said.
That nothing is impossible with “hard work and determination” was what Pacquiao’s victory showed, Joel Villanueva said.
The win proved that “we can all do anything,” said Richard Gordon. “If it is to be, it must be up to us. Congrats to the Greatness of the Filipino.”
“Our living hero” was how Sherwin Gatchalian called his Senate seatmate. “Thank you for lifting our country’s name once again.”
Pacquiao, Cynthia Villar said, brought so much pride to the country. “More power!” she said on Twitter.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque also congratulated Pacquiao.
“The Palace is one with the Filipino people in celebrating this tremendous feat,” Roque said in a statement.
“We thank our Pambansang Kamao for not only bringing honor and glory to our flag and country but once again uniting Filipinos here and abroad with his display of courage, tenacity and will power,” the Malacañang official added./PN
