CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (MindaNews / 8 Sept) – Anybody close or dear to Manny Pacquiao should reach out to him or to Sarangani Vice Governor Jinkee Pacquiao, or to Mommy Dionisia before it’s too late.
And they might as well call on Vice President Jejomar Binay too; because he seems to view Pacman as the ideal candidate for senator when he launches his presidential run in 2016. Whatever his thoughts are, we’ve got more urgent business.
We need to reach Manny Pacquiao and dissuade him from pursuing the disastrous trajectory he is taking: hiring himself out to Communist China as trainer of its professional boxers.
If Manny proceeds with this arrangement, it will turn him into a professional promoter of Chinese Communist interests not only in our society but worldwide. It is not something a decent Filipino would do
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Is it possible that Jojo Binay or Pacman doesn’t know that these same Communist Chinese interests command the allegiance of the so-called National Democratic Front (NDF) whose armed operatives are the Maoist New People’s Army (NPA)?
Are they aware that these NDF-NPA forces are harassing our communities and enterprises in the countryside in hopes of surrounding our cities till the central government collapses?
And is it possible that Jojo Binay and Pacman—sharing such grandiose dreams of political power—don’t know that the Chinese Communist Government is the biggest enemy of the Philippine Republic and of all Filipinos today?
China’s leaders covet parts of our territory in the West Philippine Sea. Without bothering to disguise their intent, they’ve moved in and are in process of grabbing shoals and reefs where they hope to install oil-drilling rigs to pump out our oil. And they’re doing so by hook or by crook, erecting structures where they can position ships and aircraft. Such hostile actions are typical of an enemy.
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To hire one’s self to such a greedy bully is to betray our country’s interests. It is treason.
Let us not allow our Pambansang Kamao to turn into a Pambansang Traydor! Whoever advised him to sell-out to the Chinese Dragon did him a disservice; it is not a good career path for this extraordinary Filipino.
Manny announced his plan to help the Communist Chinese regime just last week, saying he’ll share his knowledge and techniques through a training academy in China, which will be named the Manny Pacquiao Boxing Education Institute.
It must flatter him no end to be so invited by China—and no doubt offered oodles of money to sweeten the deal. But he needs to understand how indelicate the deal is.
He is no ordinary citizen or boxer. He is a member of Congress. He has the obligation and the duty to protect and defend Filipinos who are threatened by China’s land-grab of islands and reefs in Philippine territory.
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Manny Pacquiao and Jojo Binay need to understand that because of China’s bullying, our country today is locked in a conflict of interest with China—in which China is clearly the aggressor and our Philippines the aggrieved party.
No less than our national honour is at stake in this issue, and no less than the patriotism of our citizens is on trial. In Manny Pacquiao’s case, his patriotism is three times tested: as a citizen, as a reserved officer of the Army—a Lt. Colonel no less!—and as a congressman.
He is sworn to protect and uphold our country’s interests—and not sell his services to an unfriendly government no matter how much he is offered.
If he insists on going forward with this mercenary deal, he should give up his seat in Congress and resign his Army Officer’s commission.
Then he can pursue his quest for further fame and fortune as a private citizen. But he should be prepared to face disgrace for treason and disloyalty. How can he abet the designs of a country hostile to his own?
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China is turning out to be a rogue state by disregarding international law. The shoals, reefs, and islets of the West Philippine Sea are well within our 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone and China has no business claiming any of them.
China is a bully. Using superior naval force, it rams through our delineated boundaries and builds infrastructure for its sea and air forces inside.
China is a provocateur. It recklessly threatens Philippine water patrols, even fisherfolks, causing a state of conflict if not of war with our sovereign Republic.
But it is good that our government adheres to civilized norms for resolving interstate disputes—through diplomacy and by bringing the case to the United Nations.
For our part—private citizens, reservists, and public officials alike—let us do our duty by speaking with one voice, upholding and defending our nation’s integrity and territory, and refrain from helping or giving solace to a hostile country.
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Manny Pacquiao, who is also a rising pastor and preacher, knows that there’s much more to life than more fame and more fortune, both of which he already possesses in abundance.
Let us ask him to show more than ordinary concern for the honor and dignity of our Republic—as befits his status as an extraordinary citizen, a reserve officer, a legislator, and a statesman. Let us ask him to avoid committing treason!
[Manny is former UNESCO regional director for Asia-Pacific; secretary-general, Southeast Asia Publishers Association; director, Development Academy of Philippines; member, Philippine Mission to the UN; vice chair, Local Government Academy; member, Cory Government’s Peace Panel; awardee, PPI-UNICEF outstanding columnist. He is president/national convenor, Gising Barangay Movement Inc. valdehuesa@gmail.com]
