By Mark Vester
Manny Pacquiao's historic stoppage of Miguel Cotto, where he captured the WBO welterweight title, is the biggest boxing topic in the United States since the fight took place last Saturday in Las Vegas. One would expect the same in Pacquiao's country of the Philippines, where the fighter is viewed as a mega-star, but a brewing scandal back home has overshadowed his historic win.
A lot of the major press in the Philippines has turned their focus to the tension between Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee. There are heavy rumors that Pacquiao, allegedly, had an affair with actress Krista Ranillo. Pacquiao and Ranillo co-stared in the fighter's latest film, Whapakman.
Reporters in the Philippines are all over the story. Footage surfaced of Jinkee crying at a Thanksgiving mass that was held to honor Pacquiao's win over Cotto. Photos and video of Pacquiao in the company of Ranillo is spreading across the net. Jinkee no-showed the fighter's post-fight celebration and the couple took separate flights back to Philippines.
Jinkee's parents are furious with Pacquiao over the scandal and told abs-cbnNEWS "because you hurt our daughter, we will boycott your film." Jinkee's father, Nestor Jamora, spoke to the press and said "so many people are mad at [Manny]. And here comes that issue with Jinkee. Everyone here, her family, is mad at him."
Her father believes the scandal will hurt Pacquiao's political campaign as Congressman in Saranggani, the hometown of Jinkee.
Pacquiao's supporters are pleading with the fighter to stand up to the scandal and face it head-on but so far the fighter has issued "no comment" replies when approached with questions on the alleged affair.
Send News Tips and Comments To Mark Vester @ boxingvester@gmail.com
