International boxing icon, Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, yesterday said he is supporting the boxing program of Negros Occidental to help discover new champions for the country.

“I hope we discover another Manny Pacquiao here,” he told the DAILY STAR.

Pacquiao, who flew in from Manila for two-and-a-half hour visit, met with Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr., Vice Governor Genaro Alvarez, Rep. Alfredo Marañon III (Neg. Occ., 2nd District), Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) and some mayors of Negros Occidental over lunch at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City.

“I want to help the governor’s boxing program in anyway I can, we hope to discover good boxers who have the potential to be champions,” Pacquaio said.

A retired policeman-turned-barangay captain died Saturday night in a vehicular accident on the highway of Brgy. Tabigue in EB Magalona, Negros Occidental, police said yesterday.

Police Officer 2 William Pacurib, traffic investigator of the EB Magalona Police Station, said retired SPO2 Hermenio Bedonia, barangay captain of Batea, was declared dead on arrival at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City.

Police Investigations show that Bedonia, 64, was on his way home to EB Magalona, when the Suzuki multi-cab he was driving slammed into the rear portion of the 14-wheeler Hino tanker carrying molasses, that was stalled on the highway in front of the Santa Monica Subdivision in the barangay.

A Bacolod businessman was doing the line dance with the rest of his fellow Lions  at the Chalet in Bacolod City when he collapsed and died Friday night.

This was confirmed by Bacolod Councilor Em Ang, former Lions governor, who said yesterday that Arnel Go, 39, had joined at the club socials with fellow Lion members from all over Western Visayas who were in Bacolod for a Lions Cabinet meeting and convention.

Ang said the Chalet hall was packed with Lions members and it was very hot but everyone  seemed to be having fun.