Pacman hails Comelec decision
By Aquiles Z. Zonio
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 30 Mar 2016
Comelec chairman Andres Bautista.
GENERAL SANTOS CITY ? World eight-division boxing champion Manny Pacquiao hails the Commission on Elections-Manila for not preventing the airing of his April 9 fight against World Boxing Organization Welterweight king Timothy Bradley.
In a text message to this writer early dawn Wednesday, Pacquiao said ?I?m very happy right now because the Comelec came up with a favorable decision. This further motivates me to work hard to ensure victory.?
Pacquiao added that he?s been praying hard asking God to provide wisdom and guidance on the Comelec officials.
?This is not for my personal glory. I?m fighting for the honor of our country and to glorify God through sports,? Pacquiao said.
A senatorial aspirant who is virtually unknown especially among the Filipino masses had asked the Comelec to determine if the telecast of the Pacquiao-Bradley bout would violate election laws, noting that Pacquiao is also running for senator in the May 9 polls.
The petitioner complained that the international and local media coverage of the fight would give Pacquiao undue advantage over other senatorial candidates.
Pacquiao, however, claimed media coverage will focus not on his candidacy but on his third ring encounter with Bradley.
Pacquiao had even asked the members of the media covering his training to set aside politics and focus on his upcoming trilogy against Bradley.
?If you notice, April or May and November or December are the usual schedules of my fight abroad. Bradley rematch was in April 2014 and the Mayweather mega-buck fight was May last year. It?s not the fighter but the promoter who decides the date of the fight,? Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao added the petitioner was just trying to ride on his popularity to boost his political stock.
?He was just trying to catch media attention because only a few knew him. I understand him and I?m praying for him,? Pacquiao said.
Many political pundits opined that preventing Pacquiao?s fight from being shown live in the Philippines is a big political boo-boo.
?We all knew how Filipinos, especially the masses, love Manny Pacquiao. Everytime he fights, everything grinds to a halt. Ito lang yong tanging kaligayahan ng mga Pilipino tapos pipigilin mo? The petitioner is committing a political hara-kiri,? a political observer, who asked not to be named, said.
The Comelec yesterday made a unanimous decision that it is not within its power to stop the telecast of the Pacquiao-Bradley trilogy.
?That is not within our control. We are not in a position right now to stop it because of the three parameters that we found,? Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista said.
Bautista claimed they decided to allow the April 9 fight broadcast since ?there was really no formal complaint that was filed in accordance with Comelec rules and procedures.?
Bautista claimed the fight had not occurred yet, adding ?It?s still contingent. There is a possibility of it happening, but it has not happened yet.? he said.
The Comelec believes there is no ?justiciable controversy? to rule against the airing of the fight.
?Courts are not supposed to rule on hypothetical or contingent possibility. We are supposed to rule on actual controversy involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable,? Bautista contended.
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