Philippines President Claims Terrorists Planned to Kidnap Manny Pacquaio

Terrorists had their sights set on kidnapping Manny Pacquiao.

Image via USA TODAY Sports/Mark J. Rebilas

Is Manny Pacquaio being targeted by a terrorist group called Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines right now? He is if you believe the comments that were just made by Philippines president Benigno Aquino III earlier today.

According to Aquino, a terrorist group called Abu Sayyaf that has kidnapped a handful of people in recent weeks and beheaded a Canadian man in an effort to force the Philippines government to pay them a large ransom came up with a plan to try and kidnap Pacquiao recently. The thought is that kidnapping Pacquiao, who is one of the most famous Filipinos in the world, would force the government to give in to the group’s demands.

“They allegedly even hatched plots to kidnap Manny Pacquiao or one of his children, as well as my sister Kris or one of her children, with the plan to use them in bargaining for the release of their cohorts,” Aquino said.

The group’s plans were obviously uncovered before they were able to carry them out, but this is still a scary situation. Pacquaio hasn’t responded to the report yet, and it’s unclear if he is aware of it. Stay tuned for more.

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[via ESPN]

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