Palace expects zero crime rate Sunday

MANILA -- Malacañang is anticipating another zero crime rate Sunday as pound-for-pound Filipino fighter Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao battles with African boxer Joshua Clottey.

Clottey was barely in the picture when Pacquiao began fishing for an opponent after winning the 147-pound belt against Miguel Cotto last year.

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The Ghanaian faces Pacquiao in Texas Sunday, and chief presidential spokesperson Ricardo Saludo said in a radio interview that the government is positive the usual byproduct of the boxing match will again prevail in the entire country.

“Tomorrow (Sunday), crimes, violence, and conflicts in the country will stop during the fight of (Manny) Pacquiao and (Joshua) Clottey,” Saludo said.

The Pacquiao-Clottey match will be held at the Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Sunday (Manila time).

During the previous fights of Pacquiao, very low crime or no crime at all was recorded by the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Aside from crime rate, road traffic was also reduced during the fights of Pacquiao as most people preferred to stay home, avail pay-per-view, or join free viewing offered by some government officials and offices.

Heightened alert

In Pacquiao’s match with Clottey this Sunday, the PNP has again placed its entire forces on heightened alert.

In Cebu City, police officers are under orders to include in their patrols those places holding public viewings of “The Event.”

Acting Cebu Provincial Police Director Erson Digal said he does not want to hear of police personnel slacking off to watch the match without paying attention to calls for help from the public.

He declared Cebu Province under heightened alert as of 6 p.m. Saturday to make sure police officers stay on their toes.

After the match, all police stations are also required to submit a report of the crime situation in their areas, which will also be submitted to higher headquarters.

Cebu City Police Chief Patrocinio Comendador said he reminded his personnel not to let their guard down. And instead of staying glued to their TV sets, he wants them to conduct checkpoints.

Though crimes are usually rare during Pacquiao’s matches, Comendador said this is no reason to be complacent because some crimes happen after the match.

11-win streak

The odds in Sunday’s fight are in Manny’s favor, 5 to 1.

Though Pacquiao has been beaten thrice before, he is on an 11-fight winning streak. He last lost to Erik Morales during their first match at 130 pounds five years ago, March 19, 2005.

Since then, Pacquiao has climbed to number one on the pound-for-pound list, with victories over the likes of Ricky Hatton, dela Hoya and Miguel Cotto.

Add Clottey to that list, said Jonreil Casimero, who downed Cesar Canchilla four times to win the WBO 108-pound title last year.

Casimero, who is an interim WBO light flyweight titleholder, sees the fight ending early.

“Clottey just stands in front and waits. He doesn’t move away from punches,” said the 20-year-old Casimero, the youngest of the current Filipino world titleholders.

For World Boxing Organization (WBO) Donnie Nietes, the fight “will go the distance and Manny will win by decision.”

Nietes, who is preparing for his own title defense, was fresh off his sparring session when interviewed Saturday.

Casimero will watch “The Event” live at the IPI Gym in Mandaue City along with a few fellow boxers, while Nietes was undecided Saturday on where to view the Pacquiao vs Clottey fight as several cities and provinces in the country again organized free live telecast.

Venues

In Manila, giant screens will be set up in several venues such as Tondo Sports Complex in District 1; Sentro ng Malikhaing Manileño (formerly Patricia Sports Complex) in District 2; Rasac Covered Court in District 3; Dapitan Sports Complex in District 4; San Andres Sports and Civic Center in District 5; and Sarmiento Covered Court in District 6.

Free screening aims to accommodate people who cannot afford the expensive pay-per-view tickets and follows first-come first-served basis.

Private companies also offered pay-per-view viewing of Pacquiao-Clottey fight.

Among them are SM Cinemas nationwide; Robinsons cinemas nationwide; Gateway Cineplex 10 Cinema 1 Gateway Mall; Glorietta 4, Cinema 2; Greenbelt 3, Cinema 1 & 2; Market! Market!; Alabang Town Center, Cinema 2; Power Plant Mall - Cinema 2,3,5,6; Tutuban Mall; Tutuban Mall Exhibit (TMX), Divisoria, Manila.

Tickets range from P400 to P700 depending on the venue. Some offers free popcorn and drinks.

Araneta Coliseum also offers pay-per-view: Price: Patron (Reserved Seating) P430; Lower Box (Reserved Seating) P530; Upper Box A (Reserved Seating) P530; Upper Box B P380 and General Admission P158.

Other large venues like Augusto M. Barcelon Auditorium (P600) and Aliw Theater (P250) will also hold viewing of the fight.

Hotels offering pay-per-view are: Manila Hotel (P1,500 with free Lunch); Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila, Ballroom (P800); Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila (Free: Popcorn, Hotdog, free-flowing soda and beer); and El Cielito Inn.

The fight could also be watched at Metro Manila and Quezon City bars such as National Sports Grill (P500); Al Fresco (P300); Metro Bar West Avenue Quezon City (P400); Punchline (P400); Klownz Comedy Bar (P400); Laffline Comedy Bar (P400); Forest Grill & Restaurant (P350 plus breakfast and 2 beers); Access Point Bar and Restaurant (P400); Dencio's Bar and Grill (P450 with free breakfast); Gerry's Grill Congressional Branch (P500 with a choice of iced tea or coffee); Gerry's Grill Tomas Morato Branch (P500 breakfast meal with a choice of iced tea or coffee); 7th Note Bar & Restaurant (P500); Amoranto Theater (P200); North Susana Executive Village (P100); I.M.P. Sea Breeze Resort (P200); and Chick O'Clock.

Other provincial venues include: KKAN Restaurant (Kainan Kila Aling Nating) (P250); The London Pub and Wine Bar; The Mall Cinema 4 (P400); ICM Mall & BQ Mall in Bohol (P400); Lamberto Macias Sport Center at Capitol Area, Negros Oriental (P50); Six Blings Ostrich Resto and Bar, General Santos City (250 pesos); L’Fisher Hotel, La Proa Grand Ballroom in Bacolod City (P610); Gaisano City Mall Foodcourt in Bacolod City (P100); Ayala Center Cebu, Cinema 4D & 4P (Deluxe P600, Premier P500); Cebu Coliseum, Cebu City (P200 and P100); Mandaue City Sports Complex, Cebu (P200 and P100) Victoria Hall, Parklane International Hotel, Cebu (P800); Marriott Hotel Grand Ballroom, Cebu (P800); Marriott Hotel Cebu; Club Ultima Tower 2, Fuente Osmeña, Cebu (P600); Ultima Residence; Crown Regency, Mactan and Guadalupe, Cebu (P600); Metro Sports, Salinas Drive, Lahug, Cebu (P400); The Summit Centre at Universidad de Zamboanga, Zamboanga City (P30); Nanay Bebengs Restaurant (P200); Banana Leaf Restaurant, Davao City (P260); Paradise Island Beach Resort in Davao del Norte (P100).

Pacquiao-Clottey fight can also be viewed free through live stream online.

Sun.Star Network Online at www.sunstar.com.ph will be giving real-time updates of the fight through breaking news, Facebook and Twitter posts.

Updates can be accessed through the Pacman blog at www.sunstar.com.ph/blogs/pacman. (Jill Beltran/With EKA and MEA of Sun.Star Cebu/Sunnex)