AFP chief to skip Pacquiao fight to honor fallen soldier

Armed Forces chief Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. will skip the much-awaited fight between Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American slugger Chris Algieri on Sunday to honor a fallen soldier.

“I can always watch the replay of our Pambansang Kamao, but I could not miss the opportunity to present this award to the family of our fallen hero who made the ultimate sacrifice for the country,” Catapang said Friday.

On Sunday, Catapang will go to the wake of 1Lt Jun Corpuz in La Union to award the posthumous Gold Cross Medal to the slain young officer.

Corpuz, 22, a fresh graduate of the Philippine Military Academy, was killed in a November 2 encounter with Abu Sayyaf bandits in Basilan.

The encased medal will be received by Corpuz's father, Cresencio Corpuz. It is the third highest combat award in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Catapang, however, said he fully supports Pacquiao, a lawmaker and also a military reservist, in his fight against Algieri in Macau.

Free live viewing

Meanwhile, various live screening services of the Pacquiao-Algieri fight will be held in various military camps around the country.

The activity is part of the military's morale and welfare program, according to AFP public information office chief Lt. Col. Harold Cabunoc.

In Camp Aguinaldo, the AFP Grandstand and AFP Wellness Center, which can accommodate to over 3,000 spectators, will be opened to military personnel and their loved ones.

The Philippine Army Headquarters in Fort Bonifacio will also open the Ricarte Hall of its Officers’ Clubhouse, Army General Hospital Multipurpose Hall and PA Gymnasium for its personnel.

The Philippine Air Force headquarters in Villamor Air Base in Pasay will open its gymnasium to accommodate soldiers and dependents who want to watch the fight for free.

The Philippine Navy is also opening several venues to live screen the fight, including the Social Hall in Bonifacio Naval Station; the Conference Room in Naval Base Cavite and the Fleet Marine Ready Force Wardroom in Sangley Point; NETC Blain Theater in Zambales; and the Multipurpose Hall of Naval Sea Systems Command also in Cavite.

Military bases that house the  Unified Commands, Infantry Divisions, Naval Forces and Air Bases throughout the country are also expected to provide live showing of Pacquiao’s fight.

The AFP Medical Center will also open its Auditorium for hospital personnel and confined soldiers. —KBK, GMA News