Brillantes urges Pacquiao to defer boxing bout

To Fight or not to fight???

Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chair Sixto Brillantes has an advice for Sarangani Representative and Senatorial aspirant many Pacquiao: fight Timothy Bradley after the May 9 polls to avoid “probable legal repercussions.”

       “as professional boxing is his main profession during the campaign period would give him added exposure, which is disallowed in respect to movie actors and actresses, TV and radio broadcasters and other national celebrities: Pacquiao is not only a nationwide, but a worldwide personality,” Brillantes said in a post on his Twitter account @ChairBrillantes.

       Allowing the fight to be viewed on pay-per-view, he said allows Pacquiao additional earnings.

       “Pay-per-view contract, when implemented on the fight day, not only provides Pacquiao with financial benefit but also extend additional exposure to himself, well beyond te allowed period of time for political airtime,” said Brillantes.

       “Note that during the campaign period, product endorsements of known personalities, who are candidates, are prohibited. The reason being it provides added propaganda advertisements to one’s candidacy besides earning financially from such product endorsement” he added.

       The poll lawyer said the fight will provide Pacquiao undue advantage over other senate aspirants as the bout come not only in the middle of the campaign period, but also on the first day of the voting period for overseas absentee voting (OAV)

       Violations of election laws constitutes an election offense, which carries  a penalty of one to six years imprisonment, removal of right to vote, and disqualification from holding public office.

       Earlier, former senator Rene Saguisag wrote Comelec asking the poll body to advise Pacquiao to reset his upcoming fight.

       This is aside from the petition that Walden Bello filed before the poll body wherein he asked the latter to determine the possible violation of existing campaign rules when Pacquiao battles Bradley in las Vegas, Nevada.

       On Tuesday, the en banc discussed the letters regarding Pacquiao’s ring fight but has yet to come out with a decision.

       Instead, the en banc gave Pacquiao five days upon receipt of the notice to submit his comment to the Comelec.

Solid support

Meanwhile, the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said they are standing firmly behind whatever Pacquiao decides.

      Lawyer Rico Quicho said UNA gives all its candidates freedom on what they think is best for their respective campaign.

       “On UNA’s party, we have 110 percent supports for Congressman Manny and we trust that this issue is being carefully studied by his lawyers. We will support him whatever position he may have, “said Quicho in a radio interview yesterday.

       “This is his (Pacquiao’s) personaL endeavor, this is how fight while Vice President Binay is focusing on his campaign in different provinces to get his message across:  to fight poverty. Other candidates are also busy with their respective campaigns,” he added

       Should the boxing champ need guidance, Quicho said they are ready to assist, (with a report from Anna Liza Villas-alawaren- By: Leslie Ann G. Aquino-MB