Friday, 20 May 2011

Aquino, Pacquiao spar over RH -- Manila Bulletin

By GENALYN D. KABILING, Manila Bulletin

MANILA, Philippines — President Aquino and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao faced off Friday over the reproductive health bill during the boxing champion’s courtesy call in MalacaƱang.

The President met Filipino boxing champion Pacquiao in the Palace with both of them talking not just about boxing but defending their contrasting positions on responsible parenthood.

The hour-long face-off between the President, a supporter of freedom of choice, and Pacquiao, the Catholic Church’s poster boy in the campaign against the RH bill in Congress, ended in an agreement that they are opposed to abortion, according to Deputy Spokesperson Abigail Valte.

Valte, in a Palace press briefing, said the President first congratulated Pacquiao on his victory against Shane Mosley and later explained his five-point position on responsible parenthood to the visiting lawmaker.

She said the President also shared with the visiting congressman about the sad plight of a 16-year-old girl who had just given birth to her second child during his visit in a poor Baseco compound in Tondo, Manila. Aquino had earlier said such tragedy is among the reasons the country needs legislation on responsible parenthood.

Abortion: A Rational Look at An Emotional IssueAfter hearing the President’s position, Valte said Pacquiao voiced his concerns against the reproductive health measure, including the parents’ prerogative to prevent their children to learn sex education in schools.

Asked about Pacquiao’s reaction to the President’s position on RH measure, Valte said it was “clear” in the meeting that the Sarangani lawmaker understood the President’s five-point position on responsible parenthood.

“The President reiterated that we do not favor one (family planning) method over the other as there is no mandatory provision in responsible parenthood,” she said. “Of course, they were in agreement that there should be no abortion. It is very clear that the President and Congressman Pacquiao are both against abortion,” she added.

The President’s five-point position on responsible parenthood involves opposition to abortion, informed choice on couples on how to raise their families, respect for a person’s conscience and religious convictions on family, responsibility of the State to help poor and disadvantaged couples if they are in no position to make an informed judgment, and equal availability of natural family planning and modern methods.

From RH discussions, Valte said the President and Pacquiao tackled the lawmaker’s concerns on universal health insurance coverage, cash subsidy for the poor, among others. “Congressman Pacquiao is very interested in knowing about these programs, on how many of his constituents can avail themselves of these programs,” Valte said.

Before the meeting ended, Pacquiao gave the President the pair of yellow boxing gloves he used in his fight against Mosley, DVD copies of the fight, a “Pacman” souvenir gray hood jacket and yellow T-shirt.

As a token for his new victory and another honor for the country, the President presented Pacquiao his coffee table book “The Inaugural: The Inside Story of the Aquino Presidency” and a decorative box.

Source: mb.com.ph

Khan disapproves of Haye's disrespectful conduct -- ESPN

ESPN.co.uk

Amir Khan: A Boy from Bolton: My StoryAmir Khan has urged David Haye to stop disrespecting Wladimir Klitschko ahead of the Brit's world heavyweight title encounter later this year.

Khan is a big fan of Haye, but he admits it has been difficult to watch his compatriot in the build-up to the July 2 bout. The Hayemaker has repeatedly refused to shake Klitschko's hand, preferring instead to belittle the Ukrainian's ability as a boxer.

While Klitschko has appeared relaxed and jovial, Haye has remained serious and dismissive of his rival, insisting he bores opponents into defeat. Khan would prefer it if Haye left his talking until fight night.

"I would never do that," Khan said in the Daily Mirror. "I have always tried to be respectful to my opponents.

"David should leave that kind of stuff for the ring but I suppose he wanted to show that he was not scared of this guy who was so much bigger than him.

"Everyone's different but I never go into a ring hating my opponent. I'd make mistakes."

Khan's own situation sees him attempting to lure Timothy Bradley into a light-welterweight unification bout, although financial disagreements could see the encounter fail to materialise. One man Khan will never face, despite misquoted comments from coach Freddie Roach, is Manny Pacquiao.

"If you are going to be the best, you have to fight the best," Khan said."I want to fight at the elite level to show people how good I am and I have the tools to beat [Floyd] Mayweather.

"I'm faster than him and I have a better punch, but he is technically brilliant and very smart. Those qualities will come to me in time, especially as I have the best trainer in the world in Freddie Roach. I think Mayweather will happen in 2012.

"But there will never be a fight between Manny and me. We respect each other too much. It just wouldn't feel right."

Source: espn.co.uk