Boxing icon and world champion Manny Pacquiao’s kept his WBO welterweight title by dominating the 12-round fight against Shane Mosley via a unanimous decision, but his failure to knock out the former American champion disappointed some boxing experts.

Pacquiao, who suffered from leg cramps in the middle rounds, scored almost perfect in the fight as the judges scored it 119-108, 120-108 and 120-107.

As in the Pacquiao-Antonio Margarito bout in November, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia was given the privilege of carrying the Philippine flag while the national anthem was being sung by Filipino singer Charice Pempengco.

As expected, Negros Occidental and Bacolod City again posted zero crime rate during the fight of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao and American boxer Sugar Shane Mosley yesterday, the police said.

Mother’s Day lunches were put on hold or held later than usual in Bacolod City as Negrenses gathered around their television sets and at public venues to cheer Pacquiao on to victory once again.

Fewer people also attended masses held close to noon in Bacolod City.

The Government Service Insurance System has foreclosed a 5-hectare cemetery in Hinigaran, Negros Occidental, for its owner’s failure to pay a P17 million loan, and is in the process of taking control and disposing of 13,000 house and lots nationwide, also for unpaid loans amounting to about P11 billion, GSIS chairman Daniel Lacson Jr. said yesterday.

“GSIS means business in protecting the resources of its stakeholders, which may have been abused in the past,” Lacson told the DAILY STAR.

“The current board and administration has decided to immediately stop additional (GSIS) housing loans until a comprehensive policy and program can be introduced to dispose of all the non-performing assets amounting P11 billion or more,” he said.