BY NICK GIONGCO
Sen. Manny Pacquiao made the assurance to everyone at Dasmariñas Village of his family’s utmost cooperation in the observance of strict quarantine procedures amid concerns over the rapid spread of COVID-19.
In a letter dated March 28 and addressed to Punong Barangay Rosanna Hwang of Dasmariñas Village in Makati, Pacquiao raised the issue of news stories that branded him as a Person Under Monitoring (PUM) based on a video of himself receiving guests, including COVID-19-positive Sen. Koko Pimentel, in his residence.
Pacquiao said that gathering, which happened on March 4, was not a party but a “political meeting” of the PDP-Laban as the 41-year-old boxing champ maintained that holding a party reeked of insensitivity given the country’s current state.
Pacquiao likewise questioned why the letter was made public as it caused unnecessary panic among the general public since it was based on a raw video that later went viral.
“I wish to know how this private letter addressed to me went around social media with total regard to my right to privacy,” wrote Pacquiao, who has quarantined himself with just family members since March 24.
Interestingly, Pacquiao also requested Hwang that he be granted a quarantine pass for household staff that will handle “essential errands” during the quarantine period.
Hwang had earlier volunteered that the Barangay will provide Pacquiao’s needs so as to prevent him, his family and staff from going out of their house.
Pacquiao made it clear that only he and his family are staying at Dasmariñas Village with household staff and some members of his security and Senate detail housed separately at his Forbes Park residence.
Pacquiao said he “doesn’t wish to burden our community” by asking people other than his own to provide their daily needs and that he will “strictly and conscientiously abide by rules governing the enhanced community quarantine.”
“We fully support the community’s effort to address this pandemic,” said Pacquiao, who tested negative for the virus based on a rapid test kit imported from
Korea.
