INQUIRER Sports

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines—A spokesperson for Sen. Manuel Villar, standard bearer of the Nacionalista Party, said there was nothing political about Villar’s meeting with Pacquiao.

Avic Amarillo, media liaison officer for Villar, said the meeting was not secret and had no political tone.

“The senator just happened to be there and decided that that was the only time he could … meet Manny, who is his good friend,” Amarillo told the Inquirer in a telephone interview on Thursday.

“[Villar] has no time to go to Los Angeles so he decided to bid him (Pacquiao) goodbye there (Baguio),” she said.

Amarillo said the TV special tried to make the situation tense when there was actually no tension.

“Senator Villar even agreed with Roach that they had to leave that Sunday,” she said.

Pacquiao’s popularity has drawn countless politicians to his side.

Among the most foremost are Luis “Chavit” Singson, President Macapagal-Arroyo’s deputy national security adviser, and Joselito Atienza, environment secretary.