The distinguished gentleman from the first district of Pampanga has some sage words for his distinguished colleague from the lone district of Sarangani: Be on the safe side.
In the aftermath of a reported assault on eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in a parking lot in Hollywood a week before he fights American Timothy Bradley for a third time, Guiao advised his fellow House of Representatives member to be extra cautious.
“There are a lot of crazy, weird people in the streets,” said Guiao, the Rain or Shine coach minutes after his Elasto Painters defeated Globalport in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup late Tuesday.
“You just need to be careful, especially if you are a celebrity where people would want to be noticed or get some attention in a negative manner.”
His close-in security were able to get between Pacquiao and an enraged burly man who reportedly tried to punch the Filipino champion after he and his entourage had left a Los Angeles restaurant where they had lunch Sunday.
Pacquiao wasn’t hurt, but the unidentified attacker kept up a steady barrage of expletives fueled apparently by recent statements made back home by Pacquiao on the issue of same-sex marriage.
“Ano naman yon e, sa’kin kasi it’s still the freedom of expression, although sometimes you may offend some people; but i don’t think that was his intention,” said Guiao, himself not one to suppress his thoughts and sentiments in or off the playing court.
“To me, no matter what kind of opinion somebody else expresses, di mo naman puwedeng saktan o be violent against him.”
Pacquiao’s decision to let the man go and not press charges should go a long way, Guiao believed, to diffusing the tension.
“It’s a good thing that Manny showed some restraint; he was very cool. That really is his personality,” Guiao said.
A couple of days before the 12-round welterweight fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Guiao doesn’t recommend for Pacquiao to stay indoors or shun the public life.
“Hindi naman,” Guiao said. “But just the same, he may want to be on the safe side although I think he has people around him who could take care of him.”
That, Guiao felt, was something to be thankful for.
“Mabuti na lang nong nangyari yon, e me mga nakapaligid sa kanya,” he said. “But again, that’s part of the game, part of the price you have to pay as a celebrity.”