Fighting recently broke out again in Mindanao’s Basilan province, with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo asking the military to crush the rebel group Abu Sayyaf. Opposition senators, however, came up with an alternative: Let boxing’s best pound-for-pound fighter, Manny Pacquiao, negotiate with rebels in Mindanao.

GMA News quoted Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel as saying that the government “should get Pacquiao to work as the peace ambassador instead of employing an all-out offensive because it would only worsen the situation. He should help find a solution to the problem by talking with the leader of the rebel group.” Senator Chiz Escudero agreed with Pimentel’s suggestion.

I know that Pacquiao is already a special agent for the Department of Justice, and that he has already made calls to Communist rebels to stop fighting with the government. But Pacquiao handling a negotiation? Any kind of negotiation? That’s just hilarious. You know?

Remember, this is the same guy who acted like a prima donna while haggling about the details of the purse for his fight versus Ricky Hatton. He was also the same guy who tried to break off his contract with Solar Sports to go with ABS-CBN prior to the Hatton fight, only to change his mind a few days later. And now, he’s the guy who couldn’t agree with Miguel Cotto on a catch weight for their fight this fall. And you want him to negotiate on our behalf?

Fortunately, Pacquiao probably won’t have time to devote to peace talks, since he’s very busy these days. Nope, not with training for the Cotto fight, but with shooting his latest television show, “Show Me the Manny” where he’ll star alongside Marian Rivera and Mommy Dionisia Pacquiao. Now you know.