No congressman asked for travel authority to watch Pacquiao fight —Belmonte

No one among the members of the House of Representatives asked Speaker Feliciano Belmonte for a travel authority to attend the much-anticipated fight between their colleague Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao and undefeated world champion Floyd Mayweather.

"If they requested, I would let them go to give moral support to our hero," Belmonte told GMA News Online.

"But in fact no one asked for travel authority citing that as a reason. Anyway, everybody paid his own way," he added.

Belmonte was asked if he was okay with lawmakers going to the US to watch the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout even if it meant that they would likely miss the resumption of Congress on Monday.

According to sources in the House, at least ten lawmakers were in the US to watch the fight.

Two congressmen, opposition leader Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco and Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez, have confirmed to GMA News Online that they were in the US to watch the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

"Yes. Going with the kids," Benitez said in a text message when asked for confirmation if he was catching the fight live at the MGM Grand.

Tiangco, who's also already in the US, said he was still trying to get tickets.

"Kung wala, kahit pay per view I’ll watch. But I will definitely watch to support the people’s champ,” Tiangco said in a text message.

Prices of tickets to the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas have gone through the roof as May 2 (May 3 in Manila) nears, with secondary ticket seller StubHub offering them from anywhere between $3,495 for an upper row seat to $117,005.25 for floor side seats near the ring.

The tickets were originally priced between $1,500 to $7,500 when they first went on sale.

Last week, Pacquiao disclosed that he had spent spent $5 million, or nearly P220 million, for tickets he could give away to supporters for his fight.

When asked if he had requested a ticket from Pacquiao, Tiangco said he does not want to distract the boxer by bringing the topic up.

“This is the biggest fight of his career. I don’t want to distract him by asking him about it. I’m here to support him I’ve seen him twice in LA and saw him yesterday. I never asked him about it,” he said.

Pay-per-view

Pacquiao’s other colleagues in the House, however, said they are content to watch the fight in the Philippines on pay-per-view.

Belmonte, the third richest lawmaker in 2013 with a net worth of P819 million, said he won’t be watching the fight live in Las Vegas even though Pacquiao has reportedly reserved a ticket for him.

“[I will be watching] from Amoranto Stadium where I have arranged for free viewing for up to 11,000 viewers from my district,” he said.

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice, the  said he will also be joining his constituents in watching the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight.

“Nagluto ako ng siomai. Siomai ni Egay. Ipamimigay ko [sa mga manonood]— four pieces [na siomai] at black gulaman,” he said.

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said he will be praying for Pacquiao’s victory even if he will only be watching the fight on pay-per-view.

“Certainly I am going to pray for Manny Pacquiao, I'll root for him even if it's only watching the pay-per-view,” he said. -NB, GMA News