MANILA // Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao expressed shock on Thursday at President Benigno Aquino’s claim that Abu Sayyaf extremists planned to kidnap him, and said the alleged plot should not have been made public.
Mr Aquino released a statement on Wednesday stating the Abu Sayyaf, a notorious kidnap-for-ransom gang that beheaded a Canadian hostage this week, had planned to abduct Pacquiao or his children.
“I was alarmed when he announced ... the Abu Sayyaf wanted to kidnap me. I’m surprised because all Filipinos are my friends. I love them, especially the Muslims,” Mr Pacquiao said at his residence in Manila.
Mr Pacquiao said he had responded to the Filipino president’s statement by taking unspecified security measures to secure his wife and five children, who are in his hometown of General Santos City, about 1,000 kilometres south of Manila.
“We asked for security, protection for my kids, my family to make sure they are safe, especially as I’m not there right now,” Mr Pacquiao said.
Mr Pacquiao said he was bewildered by Mr Aquino’s statement, having not been informed personally before the president went public with the alleged plot.
“If it came from an intelligence report, it should have been kept secret and need not be announced. And why just now? We have to study this,” said Mr Pacquiao, whose unprecedented eight world titles have made him one of the Philippines’ richest men.
Mr Aquino released the statement after the severed head of Canadian John Ridsdel was dumped on Monday on Jolo island, a stronghold of the Abu Sayyaf group.
Abu Sayyaf, whose leaders have declared allegiance to Al Qaeda and then ISIL, are believed to be holding more than 20 other foreigners captive.
Aside from Mr Pacquiao, Mr Aquino said Abu Sayyaf had planned to kidnap the president’s sister, a popular television personality, as part of an effort to gain ISIL favour and funding.
Mr Aquino also said the militants had threatened to kill him, while stating the threats had been extinguished.
Mr Pacquiao said he was surprised that Islamic militants would target him, citing his good relations with Muslims in the southern Philippines.
“In fact, we support them. We give them livelihood so I don’t know where that came from,” he said.
Mr Pacquiao, an evangelical Christian, said he was not worried about his own safety and that he would continue hitting the campaign trail where huge crowds flock to him in chaotic scenes.
“I live my life like every day is the last so I have no fear. God is with me,” he said.
Mr Aquino’s spokesmen were not immediately available to comment on Pacquiao’s statements.
* Agence France-Presse
