Claims that Pacquiao got advance pay from fight promoter untrue — lawyer
FILE PHOTO: World boxing champ-turned-politician Senator Manny Pacquiao at the Senate floor on March 23, 2020. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB Files)
MANILA, Philippines — The claims made by a former friend of Senator Manny Pacquiao — that he requested advance payments from the promoter of the canceled fight between him and mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor — are merely fabricated, the senator’s lawyer said.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, lawyer Nikki de Vega who serves as Pacquiao’s legal counsel disputed the allegations of Jayke Joson, who has been a close figure in the senator’s boxing fights and business transactions.
According to De Vega, Joson is not even privy to the contract between Pacquiao and Paradigm Sports, the promotion arm of combat sports manager Audie Attar who also manages McGregor.
“Now, regarding sa mga claims niya, to be honest, they are fabricated claims, regarding sa tinakbo at P165 million and ‘yong kanyang inaadvance raw na pera, those are baseless and false no. That’s why we’re here to clarify that,” De Vega said.
“Alam niyo po ba, hindi po siya parte ng kontratang yon. Hindi po siya signatory, hindi po siya party do’n […] He’s not even a party to the contract, nagtataka kami kung saan nanggagaling ang ganyang klaseng mga sinasabi na naglabas siya ng 65 million, yung mga ganyan, talagang nagugulat kami but we categorically deny yung kanyang mga assertions,” she added.
Last June, Attar filed a lawsuit for breach of contract, claiming that the Senator committed a breach of contract when he tried to fight Errol Spence Jr. Attar said that he was supposed to be negotiating for a fight between Pacquiao and four-division champion Mikey Garcia.
Pacquiao eventually went on to fight Cuban Yordenis Ugas, who was a last-minute replacement to Spence who sat out due to injury.
READ: Pacquiao faces breach of contract lawsuit from Paradigm Sports
READ: Pacquiao brushes off Paradigm Sports lawsuit; says lawyers set to file countersuit
Joson made the allegations in an exclusive interview with SMNI, saying that Pacquiao allegedly sought for around P165 million from Paradigm as an advance payment, which he would supposedly use to help the people.
But De Vega said that Pacquiao’s case with Paradigm is already pending.
“Alam niyo po, itong issue ng paradigm, may pending case ito sa America, nanalo na nga po si Sen Manny kaya po di sila nakakuha ng injuction kaya natuloy ang laban. So ito po ay pending po. Hinahayaan po natin yan sa huwes mag-decide,” she said.
“‘Yong sinasabi niya [Joson] na nilabas sa P165 million, hindi po ito totoo. Si Sen Pacquiao never po yan nagsalita kay Jayke Joson kasi si Sen Manny ayaw niya po ng ganoon,”
De Vega added that he does not know what Joson’s motive is for releasing the issue since he and Pacquiao have been at odds for around a year already.
She also warned that Joson may face complaints about his statements.
“Alam mo naman pag election season, talagang maraming nagsasalita. Hindi natin alam pagdating ng eleksyon kung ano yung mga motibo ng kalaban, ng kakampi, o kung ano man especially sa kalaban,” De Vega said.
“What I can disclose is, of course, yung cyberlibel. Alam niyo po si Senator Manny talagang sabi niya he follows the rule of law. Very important sa kanya niyan. Basta yung gumagawa po ng istorya, fabricated po, false, lies, falsehoods. Sabi niya, attorney kasuhan natin iyan. Susundin natin yung batas para hindi na siya pamarisan pa ng iba,” he added.
