MANILA: Philippine boxing idol Manny Pacquiao has been granted exemptions for 20 firearms due to concerns about possible kidnapping attempts on his family.
Despite a Jan. 15-June 13 gun ban implemented during the country’s election period, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) approved Pacquiao’s request due to credible kidnapping threats, Director for Education and Information James Jimenez said.
“The exemptions were granted to him and to his security personnel,” Jimenez told Reuters by telephone, dismissing speculation all of the firearms were for Pacquiao’s personal use.
“The security personnel are not all assigned to him. They are also assigned to the members of his family because the justified threat that was the basis for exemption was found to extend to the members of his family as well.” The gun ban has been implemented in a bid to maintain calm during the country’s often violent elections.
Local media quoted Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer as saying Pacquiao’s exemption during the gun ban was justified as he was a “high profile personality....living in a troubled area”. Pacquiao is considered one of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters and reinforced his credentials with a crushing three-round win over Mexico’s Erik Morales in their superfeatherweight rematch in Las Vegas in November.
Known as “The Pacman”, he has long been a celebrity in the Philippines, endorsing brands of beer, fast food, pain killers and karaoke microphones, and has also appeared in movies and TV sitcoms and recorded songs in the Tagalog language. Pacquiao, from General Santos City in the south, is being courted by various political factions for the May congressional elections but says he has yet to make up his mind. (Reuters)