No pay-per-view Pacquiao-Rios fight for Crame cops

MANILA, Philippines - With the ongoing relief work for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda, the Philippine National Police will not be holding the traditional pay-per-view fight of Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao at its headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Sunday.

PNP public information office head Senior Superintendent Reuben Theodore Sindac said that the sponsor for the fight screening, the Public Safety Mutual Benefit Fund Inc., has decided to cancel the public viewing.

"In deference to the police relief operations for typhoon Yolanda victims, the PSMBFI has decided our public showing among the policemen in Camp Crame,"  Sindac said.

He also said that the expenses for the showing of the fight of Pacquiao against Mexican Brandon Rios will be consolidated and donated to typhoon victims.

"Yung resources not only sa pay per view as well as resources sa paghu-host nung show will instead be included in our relief operations which we are consolidating especially for our policemen.

"By next week, a contingent from the Philippine National Police will be flying to Tacloban to distribute relief goods for our fellow policemen who themselves were victims in the last typhoon Yolanda," Sindac added.

Tacloban City is one of the hardest hit areas by Yolanda in Eastern Visayas.

Sindac, however, pointed out that the foregoing of the pay-per-view showing of the Pacquiao-Rios fight is only for PNP headquarters in Camp Crame.

"We are not requiring others to follow. Depends on the different regional offices, smaller units if they will continue to have their own.  Sa atin yung principal sponsor namin, yung PSMBFI has opted to call off this activity with our concurrence of course kasi kami din yung maghu-host ng venue," he said.

"They (policemen) could just opt to watch the regular telecast spend it with their families and comfort of their homes," Sindac said.