President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo will meet boxing icon Manny Pacquiao on Monday in Malacanang palace despite concerns that the world's best pound-for-pound boxer could have the deadly H1N1 flu virus, the presidential palace said on Sunday. Arroyo will lead a National Day of Celebration for Pacquiao on Monday, a week after the Filipino six-time boxing champion knocked out British superstar Ricky Hatton with surprising ease in just the second round of their 12-round junior welterweight championship bout in Las Vegas. Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said Arroyo does not need to take any medical precautions when she meets Pacquiao because they believe the boxer poses no health hazard to anyone. Concerns were raised earlier that Pacquiao could have contracted the H1N1 flu virus and could spread it to people he meets in Manila following his arrival from the United States last Friday. The concerns were grounded on the facts that Las Vegas had confirmed H1N1 cases possibly at the time Pacquiao was there, that many people from Mexico – the epicenter of the virus outbreak – came to watch the fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and that the Filipino boxing superstar met with a lot of fans of various nationalities while he was still there. The National Day of Celebration in honor of Pacquiao was originally set last Friday but was postponed to Monday after officials from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) advised Pacquiao to avoid mixing with the public after flying in from the US. Pacquiao returned to the Philippines last Friday from Las Vegas, Nevada, in defiance of an advice from the WHO to postpone his trip amid fears he maybe putting the public at risk. Pacquiao also dismissed appeals for him to go on a self-imposed quarantine for five days when signs of the flu would have emerged if he was infected. Despite this, Remonde said Arroyo will not observe “social distancing measures” when she meets with the boxing champion. Remonde said Pacquiao no longer poses a health hazard since he had already been cleared of the dreaded H1N1 virus when he and his entourage arrived in Manila last Friday. Pacquiao arrived in the country and he has already passed all the required precautionary protocols in the airport and he passed with flying colors. So I think in fairness to our (national fist), he does not pose a health hazard to anyone,” Remonde said in a radio interview. Remonde said Pacquiao and his entourage are expected to arrive in Malaca?ang before 11 a.m. on Monday. He said Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita would meet them and escort them to the Palace. Remonde said the president will then host a luncheon for Pacquiao at the Rizal Hall, where most presidential engagements including state dinners given to visiting heads of states are held. Malacanang has praised Pacquiao for bringing honor and prestige to the Philippines when he knocked out Hatton in just two rounds of their duel last week. Before he proceeds to Malacanang on Monday, Pacquiao will join a hero's welcome parade which will pass through three cities in Metro Manila. The parade will start in Quezon City, pass through Manila and end in Makati City. Pacquiao is expected to meet with his long-time friend and “second” father, Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza at the latter's office in Quezon City where he will be feted to a rousing welcome.
