Pacquiao fight no election violation

PACQUIAO: I amsorry. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao will not be violating any election rules if he proceeds with his boxing match against Timothy Bradley on April 9.

“The scheduled April 9 bout of Manny Pacquiao with Timothy Bradley cannot be a ground to disqualify Pacquiao as candidate for senator in the May 2016 elections,” said lawyer Romulo Macalintal in a statement.

According to him, there is no provision in election laws that would justify any complaint to disqualify Pacquiao just because of the said boxing event.

“If there is any
violation of election laws, a criminal complaint has to be filed and it is only after conviction of said offense that a candidate could be disqualified to seek public office either by election or appointment,” Macalintal explained.

He stressed further that no election offense case could be filed against Pacquiao because he is not violating any provision of election laws that would justify the filing of
a criminal case against him.

“Even if there is any offense defined under Philippine laws, the same could not be imposed against Pacquiao because the fight will be held in Las Vegas City,” he said.