Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – World boxing champion Manny Pacquiao was honored by his fellow lawmakers today for being among the top five Filipino Congressmen.  Pacquiao is an elected member of the House of Representatives, representing his native Saranggani province.

House Speaker Sonny Belmonte praised Pacquiao, who is also a playing coach of the Kia Sorrentos basketball team in the country’s Professional Basketball Association (local counterpart of the NBA in the U.S.), for being in the top 5 leading congressmen – absentee congressmen, that is. The boxer ranked No. 5.  Former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo who remains in hospital arrest in connection with  plunder charges filed against her, is in the No. 1 spot.

Belmonte said that Pacquiao has attended 31 and missed 38 sessions in his current congressional term. “He is to be commended for his attendance record given his very busy schedule as a professional boxer and basketball playing coach. He truly brings great honor to our country,” Belmonte added.

Pacquiao is being investigated by the Philippines’ Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for tax evasion in connection with his earnings from his championship boxing fights in the U.S., to which he has said, “this is purely a witch hunt by BIR Commissional Kim Henares who seems to enjoy going after celebrities like me.”