Pacquiao invites worship singing policemen to Bible studies

Manila: Eight weight division champion Manny Pacquiao invited worship-singing policemen to join his daily Bible-studies before his bout against unbeaten Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on June 9, a TV report said.

After members of the all-male Servant of God Police Choir serenaded Pacquiao with worship songs during his brief training in a gym in Metro Manila, the boxer-turned congressman invited them to his Bible-studies in the US prior to his bout with Bradley at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, GMA News said.

"Our choir shows that policemen are not just after criminals for the sake of peace and order. We also bring spiritual awakening," said Senior Supt. Napoleon G. Villegas, Jr., head of the Servant of God Police Choir.

The muscician-policeman did not say how many choir members could have the time to "spiritually assist" Pacquiao in the US.

In between-training session with his friend Buboy Fernandez at the LM Gymn, Pacquiao told GMA that Bible-studies and worship songs have been giving him strength.

"In Him who is the source of my strength, I have strength for everything," he said, quoting Philippians 4:13.

Since he became a Bible-reading boxer, his trainers were no longer worried about his rambunctious night life.

But the boxer-turned congressman has another consuming passion, politics, which could deter his focus on ring-fights.

On Monday, he took his oath as party member of Partido Demokratikong Pilipino (PDP-Laban) of Vice President Jejomar Binay at the Makati Shang-rila Hotel.

He proffered his left hand during the oath-taking which was administered by party president Senator Aquilino Pimentel III.

" We have been asking him to join us for some 10 months," Pimentel said when asked how long his party wooed the popular boxer.

His new party will support his candidacy as governor of Saranggani in 2013.

Vice President Binay has been forming alliances with other parties also prepare for his presidential candidacy in 2016.

Meanwhile, President Benigno Aquino did not acknowledge Pacquiao's presence during a summit held to solve power problem in the southern Philippines. It was seen as a snub by observers.

The Bureau of Immigration recently filed contempt charges against Pacquiao for not submitting tax-related documents.

The boxer claimed that he was being harassed for not signing the impeachment complaint filed by allies of President Aquino against Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Pacquiao was part of the pro-Aquino coalition after Aquino's victory in May 2010.

When he ran as a congressman in May 2010, he was supported by the Nationalista Party which was led by losing presidential candidate, Senator Manny Villar.

Pacquiao was a close ally of former President Gloria Arroyo, but he did not formally join her party Kampi.