Manny Pacquiao returns home to help calamity victims in Sarangani

Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao arrived in Manila Saturday morning from the US after his controversial fight against unbeaten Palm Springs boxing sensation Timothy Bradley last June 9 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.

Pacquiao lost to Bradley via split decision after two of the three judges favored Bradley while the third judge gave it to Pacquiao. Thousands of people watching the fight at the MGM Grand were visibly shocked at the result of judges scoring which favored Bradley. Fight statistics produced by Compubox revealed Pacquiao won the fight by a wide margin. In a poll conducted by HBO, 91% of the respondents believe Pacquiao won while only 7 percent say Bradley won and 2 percent believed the fight was a draw. Pacquiao flew to Sarangani Sunday on a private plane to be with his constituents who were severely hit by flash floods caused by heavy rains induced by a typhoon passing through the Philippine coastlines. “I decided to return to my province because my constituents are there, they were affected by floods. They need my help,” Pacquiao said in his arrival statement. The Sarangani Congressman left his wife Jinkee in the US along with his four children who are on vacation just to be with his constituents in Sarangani. He said he will return to the US to rejoin his family after attending to the needs of the flood victims in his province. In his arrival statement, Pacquiao thanked the Filipino people for their support and asked his fans to accept the judges' verdict. “It’s okay. In the heart of God and the Filipino people, I am the winner,” he said At this time, Pacquiao is not keen on a rematch with Bradley. But if it comes, he said he will make sure that no one will be able to interfere in the outcome of the fight — hinting he will knockout Bradley for a clear verdict.