Pacquiao to file cyber libel, estafa raps vs old friend for allegedly spreading malicious rumors

Sen. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao/ Screen grab,  Senate PRIB

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Manny Pacquiao’s camp would file cyber libel and estafa complaints against his former friend for allegedly spreading rumors about the world-renowned boxer, including claims that he requested advance payments from a fight promoter.

Pacquiao’s legal counsel Nikki de Vega said on Tuesday that the necessary criminal case would be filed against Jayke Joson — the senator’s long-time friend who publicized his feud with Pacquiao.

“We are actually going to file necessary criminal case. Cyberlibel, estafa, syndicated estafa. Siguro hintayin natin don. Pag naifile na namin, makikita niyo doon,” de Vega told reporters in a press briefing.

(We are actually going to file the necessary criminal case. Cyber libel, estafa, syndicated estafa.  Maybe we should wait for that, once we file it, you will see.)

“What I can disclose is, of course, ‘yong cyber libel. 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’,” she added.

(What I can disclose is, of course, the cyber libel raps.  You know, Senator Manny said that he really follows the rule of law. It is very important for him.  If you make fake stories, fabricated stories, false, lies, falsehoods, he told me, ‘Attorney, let’s file a case against him.)

Joson claimed that Pacquiao sought around P165 million from Paradigm Sports before the fight with mixed martial arts star Conor McGregor was formalized.

However, the fight was canceled, and Paradigm eventually filed a case against Pacquiao for going into negotiations with Errol Spence Jr. when it was actually trying to forge a fight with four-division champ Mikey Garcia.

De Vega earlier belied Joson’s accusations.

READ: Claims that Pacquiao got advance pay from fight promoter untrue — lawyer 

The lawyer also said that Pacquiao instructed her to go after Joson, in order to prevent others from doing the same.  However, regarding the other cases, de Vega said she cannot disclose further information yet.

“Susundin natin yung batas para hindi na siya pamarisan pa ng iba. Sabi nga niya, ang laban na ito, laban niya para rin sa taong bayan. Para matigil na yung ganitong klaseng practice,” de Vega said.

(We should follow the law so that it doesn’t happen again.  As he said, this fight, his fight is for the people, so such practices would already stop.)

“The others po, meron po kaming pineprepare na mga estafa, syndicated estafa and other criminal cases. Yan po hindi ko pa po pwede idisclose kasi po giangawa pa po namin iyon para po sa mga evidential matters,” she added.

(The others, we are preparing cases for estafa, syndicated estafa and other criminal cases.  But I cannot disclose that yet because we are still in the process of compiling materials for evidential matters.)

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.

Furthermore, the lawyer claimed that Joson is not even privy to the contract between Pacquiao and Paradigm, which is run by combat sports manager Audie Attar who also manages McGregor.

Last June, Attar filed a lawsuit for breach of contract when Pacquiao tried to fight Spence instead of Garcia.  The Senator, who is running for president in the 2022 national elections, eventually went on to fight Cuban Yordenis Ugas — 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