No free loaders in Pacquiao Olympic trip

The green light is on for Manny Pacquiao as flag-bearer of the Philippine contingent to next month’s Beijing Olympics.

But for those planning to tag along, anyone among Pacquiao’s horde of relatives and friends, it won’t be that easy.

Moying Martelino, who heads the secretariat of the RP Team to Beijing, said it’s no longer possible to get additional accreditation other than that for Pacquiao.

“Due to lack of material time it’s impossible. So those who wish to join Pacquiao in the trip will have to do things by themselves. It’s no longer our responsibility,” he said.

“We can not process any papers for them.”

Philippine Olympic Committee officials, including Martelino and his staff, moved heaven and earth to have Pacquiao accredited as official member of the RP Team.

But now that Pacquiao has been given the green light by the Chinese organizers, the door has been totally shut.

“All Pacquiao needs is a Chinese visa. Then he goes to China and gets his accreditation there. There’s no more time for the documents to be sent here,” Martelino said yesterday.

Wherever he is, Pacquiao moves around with a huge entourage made up of family members, business partners, friends, bodyguards and just anybody else hanging around.

That will have to change while he’s in China. There he’ll be surrounded by sports officials, fellow athletes, his fans and the media.

But in fairness to Pacquiao, Martelino added, there’s been no request so far from the boxer’s camp regarding additional accreditation.

“There’s just nothing more for us to give,” the sports official said. – Abac Cordero