Coronavirus: Manny Pacquiao Puts Life At Stake For Filipinos, Says He's 'Not Afraid To Die'

As a boxer, Manny Pacquiao has always been known as the fighter who never backs down against any opponent inside the ring. And now that his country is facing a battle of its own against the Coronavirus pandemic, the Filipino icon is about to unleash the brave warrior in him as he vowed to help his countrymen, even at the expense of his life, in fighting through the crisis.

The Philippine Senator spoke with the Manila Bulletin and said that being a public servant comes with the willingness to sacrifice for the people he serves.

“If you are a leader, you have to be a front-liner. You have to lead people and let people see that you are with them. I grew up poor. I know what they feel,” said Pacquiao, who grew up in a poverty-stricken community in Sarangani Province, south of the Philippines., before becoming the boxing superstar that he is today.

The northern part of the Philippines, where Manila is located, is placed under an enhanced community quarantine by the President of the Republic as the country attempts to stave off the spread of COVID-19. Pacquiao, however, said he is wary of the possible effects of the lockdown, saying people, especially the poor, could go as far as looting just to survive.

“That’s chaos. And that is what I am afraid of,” the eight-division world champion said as he led a turnover of 50,000 testing kits from China to be used by health workers who serve as the front liners in treating patients confirmed to be positive for the Coronavirus.

The 41-year-old fighting legislator had initially donated 700,000 face masks to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Health, and Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and five buses aimed at providing free rides to the front liners after the enhanced community quarantine suspended all public transport to operate.

According to the latest report, the Philippines has recorded 396 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 18 of which have recovered while 33 already lost their lives.