Thrilla in Naia: Pacquiao says, 'Love one another'

MANILA, Philippines - Even while in training in Los Angeles, boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao can’t take his eyes off the latest and the hottest issues back home.

By this time he must have seen videos of the ugly airport incident between actor Raymart Santiago and his wife, actress Claudine Barretto, and columnist/TV host Ramon Tulfo.

Pacquiao sure knows Tulfo but may be closer to the Santiagos, being one of the sponsors during the dedication (baptismal) of their child, Rodrigo Santino Santiago, in 2008.

At a grand birthday bash of Pacquiao’s daughter, Princess, shortly after, the controversial actress was in charge of planning the event.

But Pacquiao isn’t taking sides on the issue being talked about for days now.

He sent a short message, a biblical verse, to the warring camps, perhaps even directed at the brothers of the hard-hitting columnist.

“Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires,” Pacquiao told GMA-7 at the Wild Card Gym following his workout.

Pacquiao is gearing up for a June 9 showdown with undefeated Timothy Bradley. The Pinoy superstar reportedly skipped his gym session the other day due to jetlag but was up and about yesterday.

Tulfo and Santiago have traded charges on court, and the Tulfo brothers, Erwin, Raffy and Ben, have been suspended from their TV show for their TV commentaries after the event.

Six airport security guards have also been suspended for their failure to control the incident.

“Love one another,” Pacquiao said.

Santiago and Tulfo came to blows after the latter took pictures of the actor’s wife berating a hapless airline employee due to their off-loaded baggage from a domestic trip.

Santiago and at least a couple of his friends ganged up on the much older Tulfo, who was alone when the incident took place at the arrival area of NAIA Terminal 3.

The airport incident has been dubbed “Thrilla in Naia” even if it was nowhere close to the iconic Ali-Frazier battle that was the “Thrilla in Manila” of 1975.

But a thrilla is a thrilla.