By MARIA FEONA IMPERIAL
A boxing fight is not a political advertisement.
This is what Sarangani representative and boxing champ Manny Pacquiao told the Commission on Elections Monday to defend the airing of his upcoming match with American boxer Timothy Bradley on Philippine television.
Pacquiao, through his lawyers Antonio Carlos Bautista and Romulo Macalintal, said the April 9 fight is not undue media exposure on his senatorial bid, contrary to what former lawmakers Rene Saguisag and Walden Bello had claimed.
Pacquiao’s fight should not be seen as a partisan political activity but a newsworthy international boxing event, Bautista told reporters.
Even if the Commission on Elections (Comelec) decides that it as a form of political campaigning, the boxing match still won’t be a violation of the fair elections law for as long as it falls within the prescribed broadcast airtime limits.
Under Republic Act 9006, a candidate vying for a national post is entitled to a maximum of 120 minutes for television and 180 minutes for radio on a per station basis for his or her political ads. (See Comelec eyes reforms in fair election law)
“If the fight lasts the 12-round distance, the maximum media exposure Pacquiao will get is only 36 minutes under the mandatory 3-minute per round rule,” Pacquiao’s five-page letter reply read.
Based on Pacquiao’s track record, Bautista said it is even possible that the fight would finish early.
“(We) don’t know what will happen in that fight. For all we know, baka nga (it could be) it will last for only one round or two rounds,” he said.
Bautista stressed that Pacquiao did not intentionally plan to schedule his fight to coincide with his senatorial campaign. He added that usually, Pacquiao’s bouts in the past were scheduled in April or May.
Macalintal and Bautista likewise pointed out that the letters of Bello and Saguisag sought advisory opinion on whether or not Pacquiao could push through with the fight.
But for the Pacquiao camp, the poll body or any court or agencies performing quasi-judicial functions do not have the power to issue advisory opinions. Only when there are cases or violations of the law can the courts intervene, Bautista said.
“In essence, Rep. Bello and Atty. Saguisag seek to punish or castigate our client, Manny Pacquiao, for an act which has not yet been committed–based on their prophecy of things to come,” Pacquiao’s letter to the Comelec en banc said.
Last week, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said the poll body may block the airing of the Pacquiao-Bradley fight if it violates certain provisions of the fair elections law. (See Comelec may block airing of Pacquiao-Bradley fight)
The Comelec, poll chief Bautista said, has “some form of control, and regulatory supervision over entities which have a franchise during election period.”
Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon also said in a tweet last week that Pacquiao should consider postponing the fight until after the elections.
But his lawyer said the decision to delay the boxing match would not depend on Pacquiao’s camp alone.
“Since this is a professional match, there are many contracts involved,” legal counsel Bautista said. Postponement of the fight could even lead to breach of contract on Pacquiao’s side, he added.
The Comelec en banc has yet to decide on the issue.
“Kapag tingin nila may (If they think there’s a) violation, then let’s cross the bridge when we get there,” Bautista said.
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