PACMAN TO SPEND $500K FOR FREELOADERS, AND STILL COUNTING By Salven L. Lagumbay PhilBoxing.com

LOS ANGELES -- In tickets alone, pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao revealed yesterday that he has already spent about $550,000 (roughly P27,500,000) to be given away to friends who will be flying in to watch his December 6 "Dream Match" against Oscar De la Hoya.

In an interview with this writer yesterday at his Palazzo residence here, Pacquiao informed that these friends include politicians, celebrities and others whose ticket he will be shouldering once they come for the fight.

"Yan ang current expenses ko sa ticket lang. Kasali na dyan mga politicians, artista at sila lahat. Mga kaibigan ko lahat," Pacquiao stated, adding that the figure can still balloon once more friends show up at the fight.

Pacquiao also added that the figure does not include the tickets that he has purchased for himself, although he did not cite the exact amount.

The Visayan Daily Star has quoted Pacquiao's personal secretary Bren Evangelio as saying that the boxing icon had shouldered in the past Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia’s travel expenses, ticket for the fight and hotel accommodation, except for his pocket money.

The clarification, according to the report, was made after a Commission on Audit report distributed to the media by some quarters recently, stated that in 2005 alone, the city government spent P262,273,00.84 for payment/reimbursement of traveling expenses.