Mansion matters
The Philippine Star columnist Babe Romualdez said that the eight-division champion, who has been hounded by his P3 billion-tax liability case, is selling the 1,500-square meter property for P708 million.
“One of our real estate informants told Spy Bits that Sarangani Congressman Manny Pacquiao is about to sell his house located at Cambridge Circle in Forbes Park for P708 million,” Romualdez said in his column Spybits.
Pacquiao bought the mansion for P388 million back in 2011 while he was still the world's pound-for-pound champion.
Pacquiao is set to earn a guaranteed $25 million (roughly P1.1 billion) in his WBO welterweight title defense against Algieri in Macau this weekend.
Pacman's BIR woes
The fighting congressman, who also recently dabbled in professional basketball, is locked in a legal battle with the BIR and the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) over his tax liability.
The bureau is going after Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee for allegedly failing to settle his tax deficiencies with the government, which have ballooned to over P3 billion.
Pacquiao sought the help of the CTA, but the court has asked the boxer to cough up a cash bond of P3.2 billion or a P4 billion surety bond.
He went to the Supreme Court, which issued a temporary restraining order on the tax case.
Palace message to Pacman
Malacañang, meanwhile, wished Pacquiao all the best in his Macau fight.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said the whole country is hoping for their hero's victory on Sunday.
"Nawa'y pagpalain siya ng Panginoon na magkaroon ng sapat na lakas at gilas upang maipagwagi ang laban niya at magdulot ng ibayong karangalan sa bansang Pilipinas!" he said in a statement.
"We are confident that the Pacman will bear the flag proudly again this time," Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said for her part.