Manny Pacquiao who loves to be called the People’s Champ has proved he is no champion of our people’s health and well-being. Against the advice of the World Health Organization that he and his party remain in Los Angeles for a few more days until it could be ascertained that no one was afflicted with the swine flu, Pacquiao stuck to his schedule and flew back to Manila Friday. The world’s best pound-for-pound boxer apparently has not heard that an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.
The WHO had good reasons to recommend a brief postponement of Pacquiao’s return. Human-to-human transmission of the A H1N1 virus has been established, particularly in Los Angeles. And the virus has been spreading in the United States. The WHO suggested that Pacquiao and his group delay their homecoming for five days during which they should go on self-imposed quarantine to make sure they didn’t catch the virus. But if Pacquiao and company could not hold off their return, the WHO said they should practice “social distancing” which basically means no physical contact with welcomers.

Following WHO’s recommendations, Health Secretary Francisco Duque appealed to Pacquiao to defer his return, saying it was “better to be conservative.” Malacañang also weighed in with a similar appeal from Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita who told Pacquiao to either postpone his trip or, if he must come home, go on self-imposed quarantine. Anthony Golez, deputy presidential spokesman, warned that Pacquiao would be flirting with disaster if he returned on schedule. “It’s going to be a nightmare for the country if someone from his team exhibits signs and symptoms of the (swine flu) virus,” Golez said as he pointed out how difficult it would be to trace every person they would come in contact with, given the huge crowds that were expected to greet the boxing legend.

Pacquiao ignored them all. Instead he chose to listen to Environment Secretary Lito Atienza, who declared him “the healthiest Filipino today.” “No one in the entourage of Manny is sick,” Atienza said. And Pacquiao agreed with Atienza’s diagnosis, saying no one in his group was suffering from colds or exhibiting any flu symptoms.

Maybe they are right—except that the last time we looked, neither Atienza nor Pacquiao had earned a degree in medicine, so we don’t know by what authority they can declare anyone healthy or free of the deadly flu virus. Neither can we understand how the environment secretary can override the recommendation of the health secretary on a matter related to public health.

Atienza also tried to justify Pacquiao’s decision by saying it was his “right” to come home. But that right cannot be absolute; it surely ends when it puts the health of others at risk.

Which is what Pacquiao, Atienza and their entire retinue have done since they arrived Friday. Right at the Centennial Airport, Pacquiao showed that he would not be bound by the WHO’s advice to practice “social distancing.” He hugged his two sons and kissed his daughter. Then he went off to a hotel, from where he proceeded to hear Mass at the overcrowded Quiapo church. His next stop was the office of his trusted adviser, Atienza, after which he went to the Mall of Asia for a welcome concert. It was as if he and his advisers had never heard of the swine flu and how it threatens to develop into a pandemic. In times as critical as these, it is hard to imagine a more mindless, reckless and irresponsible behavior, especially by a man who is regarded as a national hero.

Pacquiao would have lost nothing but a few days and a few thousand dollars from the multimillion-dollar purse he won by postponing his return. In fact, he could have helped immensely in promoting public awareness about the flu and the measures needed to prevent it. And he could have shown the kind of civic spirit, cooperation and respect for authorities that are most needed in times of an emergency. Instead he chose to demonstrate an appalling incapacity to sacrifice for the common good. The people of Sarangani would do well to ponder this when Pacquiao comes calling and asks for their votes.