MILF welcomes sports in politics

DAVAO CITY — Showing that indeed sports is a unifying avenue for peace, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front the other day accepted the offer for them to watch the Oct. 26 Manny Pacquiao-Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym titular match at the Rizal Memorial College Gym in Davao City.

Ghadzali Jaafar, vice-chairman for political affairs of the MILF, admitted in a radio interview in Davao City the other night that his group is interested to watch the fight, if only to prove that peace can be achieved especially in one big sporting event such as the Manny Pacquiao title defense.

Jaafar was reacting to earlier reports that Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, together with North Cotabato Governor Manny Piñol, has offered his group and the MNLF and NPA some sixty tickets to watch the show live on Oct. 26. Each ticket costs P50,000, which brings the total freebies to a whopping P3-million worth of tickets for the three factions.

"This is a very positive development towards achieving our long-cherished dream of peaceful resolution of conflicts. The MILF has already taken notice, and hopefully, the MNLF and NPA are just as responsive to this peace offering," Piñol, a former boxing columnist, said.

Meanwhile, Thai Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym is expected to plane in from Thailand tomorrow, together with his manager, business manager, two Thai press people and trainers. From Manila, they will then head straight to Davao City where they will be billeted at the Mandaya Hotel in the city’s downtown area.

Pacquiao, who will be making his third defense of the title he wrested from South African Lehlo Ledwaba last year, will be staying at the posh Marco Polo Hotel days leading to fight night.

Mexican former world champ Goyo Vargas, who is set to trade leathers with Davao’s Chris Saluday in the main undercard, is set to arrive today.