Palace defers to Comelec on banning Pacquiao’s televised fight

Should senatorial candidate and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao postpone his fight against Timothy Bradley in April to avoid disqualification from the May elections?

Malacañang on Tuesday said it should be up to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to decide whether Pacquiao’s televised fight is in violation of the Fair Election Act.

“We recognize the Comelec’s duty to regulate the candidates’ activities during the election period, and this includes Rep. Pacquiao’s scheduled fight,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. told Palace reporters.

He was reacting to Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon’s warning against Pacquiao’s televised boxing fight.

READ: Poll exec warns Pacquiao

She said that while Pacquiao has the right to box, the live telecast “will have consequences on his candidacy.”

Prior to joining the legislature, Pacquiao was widely known as a world-renowned boxer.

Pacquiao is running for the Senate under the banner of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

READ: We are 110 percent behind Pacquiao–UNA

Binay spokesperson Rico Quicho dismissed Guanzon’s comments, saying it is best to wait for an official Comelec statement.

It was former Akabayan Representative Walden Bello, who is also a senatorial candidate, who asked the Commission to order Pacquiao to postpone his fight. CDG

READ: Pacquiao cannot be disqualified even if Bradley bout pushes through—lawyer