House Speaker Prospero Nograles and fellow solons preparing to leave for Las Vegas to watch the anticipated Pacquiao-Hatton match got a chiding from their colleague, Nueva Ecija Rep. Edno Joson.

Amid a global financial crisis, Joson said the people's representatives shouldn't flaunt their wealth while their countrymen are suffering.

"Bugbog sarado na ang tao sa kahirapan, nagpupunta pa doon. Tingin ko talagang dapat may ganitong ban, even in these instances," he told reporters on Wednesday.

"We have to realize that the people are suffering. They shouldn't flaunt their wealth to show the poor that we can afford to go abroad and enjoy while they are suffering," Joson added. 

Joson called for the approval of his pending resolution, House Resolution 371, which seeks a three-year moratorium on foreign trips except in cases certified by the President, the Senate President, or the Speaker
 
A group of about 50 congressmen, including Nograles, have consistently been going abroad to watch boxing matches of Manny Pacquiao. 

"I have never missed his fight. He is the pride of Mindanao and I am part of his team. I never used government funds to watch all his previous fights including now," Nograles said.

"It's a weekend and there is no session," he added.

Moral Support

In defense of Pacquiao fans in the House of Representatives, Quezon City Rep. Matias Defensor said Pacquiao would need the support of fellow Filipinos in Las Vegas.

"Hindi naman insensitive. Maganda na may mga kongresista nandoon. Alam mo ang suntok ni Pacquiao, dumoble ang lakas. Sinasabi ni Father Reuter noong araw, 'Cheer. Cheer hard because that cheering will make a basketball player jump 12 to 24 inches higher or prolong his stamina by several minutes,"" Defensor said.

"Yung nararamdaman ni Pacquiao na masakit na ang tama, nakababa na ang kamao, yung bagsak na pero pag nakikita mo ang kababayan mo, alam mo na nag laban hindi lang sayo, laban para sa iyong bansa. Kaya ibigay na natin ang support sa kanya. Hindi masama yung ganoon," he added.