Manny Pacquiao News: 'Pacman' Reportedly Targeted for Abduction by Muslim Militant Group
Eight-division world boxing champion and retired boxer Manny Pacquiao is reportedly a subject of a potential abduction plot by Muslim militant groups in his home country of the Philippines.
According to a report by ESPN's Dan Rafael, Philippine president Benigno Aquino III bared the attempt to kidnap "Pacman" by Abu Sayyaf, the terror group that has been responsible for the recent beheadings of Canadian tourist John Ridsel on Monday.
The group did the said beheading after the Philippine government failed to give in to its ransom demands.
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"They allegedly even hatched plots to kidnap Manny Pacquiao or one of his children, as well as my sister Kris or one of her children, with the plan to use them in bargaining for the release of their cohorts," Pres. Aquino said.
For his part, Pacquiao is skeptical about the said reports. According to Bob Velin for Boxing Junkie, the Filipino boxing icon, who is also a Senatorial aspirant for the upcoming May 9th Philippine Elections, believes his "Muslim brothers" are not capable of doing such a horrendous act to him or his family.
"I was alarmed when he (President Aquino) announced … the Abu Sayyaf wanted to kidnap me. I'm surprised because all Filipinos are my friends. I love them, especially the Muslims," Pacquiao said. "We asked for security, protection for my kids, my family to make sure they are safe, especially as I'm not there right now."
Pacquiao is also a current Congressman for the Sarangani Province in Mindanao, the Southern region of the country where the said militant group resides. Pacquiao claims he helped give support to all Muslims in the Philippines, including the members of the group, which makes him skeptical about the report.
"If it came from an intelligence report, it should have been kept secret and need not be announced. And why just now? We have to study this," Pacquiao said.
The 37-year old Pacquiao is known to be a devout Born Again Christian, where he converted to the said religion from being a Roman Catholic.
