Militant group calls off rallies during Pacquiao title fight

MANILA, Philippines - Militant organizations did not schedule any protest action for Sunday to get a chance to watch the fight of Filipino boxing idol Manny Pacquiao against Mexican pug Juan Manuel Marquez.

“No major protests are scheduled tomorrow as we join the Filipino people in wishing Manny Pacquiao the best in his fight against Marquez," Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary general Renato Reyes told GMANews.TV in a text message Saturday.

However, he assured that his group would pursue its “unfinished business" with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo after Pacquiao’s fight.

Reyes said that in the “return bout" against Arroyo, Bayan expects a “political knockout" victory regardless of the number of rounds the fight might take.

The Pacquiao-Marquez fight will be held at Mandalay Bay Casino and Resort in Las Vegas on March 15 (March 16 in the Philippines).

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said it expects another zero-crime-rate day in the country as with past Panquiao fights.

On Thursday said authorities anticipate most Filipinos to be hooked to their television sets during the duration of Pacquiao's title bout versus Marquez.

"Just like in the past fights of Manny Pacquiao, we expect again a tremendous decrease in the crime volume this Sunday, or even to the extent of anticipating a zero-crime rate during the period of the fight," said Police spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome in a news briefing at Camp Crame Thursday.

"This goes to show that we Filipinos are really in support of a countryman who will again show the true form of a Filipino boxer," he added.

But Bartolome assured the public that despite this anticipated low crime incidence, the PNP will not let down its guard, especially against criminals who might also take advantage of the situation.