MANILA, 16 March 2008 — Government troops were ordered to suspend offensive operations against communist rebels today and help cheer on boxer Manny Pacquiao in his world title fight with Mexico’s Juan Miguel Marquez in Las Vegas.
Armed Forces of the Philippines chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon yesterday said he has declared a seven-hour unilateral cease-fire in the campaign against the communist New People’s Army (NPA) to give troops time to watch the fight.
Esperon said there was no need for a similar order against the separatist Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) since there is an existing truce. As a matter of policy, the military does not declare a suspension of operations against extremist groups such as the Abu Sayyaf.
The cease-fire order takes effect from 8 a.m. (0000 GMT) to 3 p.m. today.
“We will have a suspension of military operations with the NPA except when you have to act against (the) enemy,” said Esperon, urging the rebels to reciprocate and also watch the match.
“They shouldn’t make trouble. Everybody wants to witness another win of Pacquiao,” he told reporters.
Esperon also noted that members of the armed forces are rooting for Pacquiao because he is a soldier.
The hugely popular Pacquiao, who has also dabbled in movies and television, is a reservist master sergeant in the Philippine Army.
Asked if a Pacquiao win would be a morale boost for the troops, Esperon said: “Oh yes, that’s true for all us Filipinos, especially for us because Pacquiao is a soldier.”
Lt. General Alexander Yano, commander of the Philippine Army, said that “win or lose, Pacquiao will remain to be the pride and hero of the army, the Filipino soldier, and all Filipinos.”
Yano added: “I have no doubt that he will bring home the bacon.”
The fight will be shown at the AFP Theater in Camp Aguinaldo and at the Philippine Army gymnasium in Fort Bonifacio in Manila.
Pacquiao’s fight comes as a welcome respite for a nation badly in need of heroes and models amid worsening corruption.Even feuding politicians have suspended their fights and petty criminals were expected to suspend their own nefarious activities so as not to miss the fight.
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said she was extending her full support for Pacquiao, recalling that during his past bouts traffic jams and crime virtually ceased.
Arroyo’s chief aide, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, said that “there will be a cease-fire for a day.”
He added that this “might help reduce the tension gripping the country today,” referring to the protracted opposition campaign to unseat Arroyo on charges of corruption and vote fraud.
The opposition, backed by civic groups and even some Roman Catholic bishops, have been holding almost daily street protests and congressional hearings aimed at ousting Arroyo but the president has refused to resign and vowed to finish her term, which ends in 2010.
Prominent officials and showbiz personalities, including Vice President Noli de Castro, were on their way yesterday to the United States for the match, which will be aired live on television in the Philippines.
ABS-CBN television network, which has exclusive rights to broadcast the Pacquiao-Marquez fight, will also air the match on a pay-per-view basis to its subscribers in Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East, Europe and elsewhere.
Pacquiao, who holds the separate WBC international superfeatherweight belt, is considered a national sports hero in the Philippines and was dubbed by Arroyo “the national fist” after his most recent bout, a unanimous 12-round decision over Mexican Marco Antonio Barrera in October.
A previous fight between Pacquiao and Marquez in 2004 ended in a draw and the rematch is widely considered a grudge fight. (With input from Agencies)
