The proposed fight of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao in April will not be covered by the Fair Elections Act should the “People’s Champion” decide to throw his hat into the political arena, TV Patrol World reported Tuesday.
Benjamin Abalos, chairman of the Commission on Elections, said Pacquiao’s upcoming fight will be considered a current event and not a promotion of his candidacy.
“’The actual event (the bout) is not covered [by election laws]. That is news… because remember, it’s a different consideration for Pacquiao, [because he is giving honor to the country],” said Abalos.
Abalos, however, said that the airing of Pacquiao’s past fights within the election period is a different matter. He said that once Pacquiao declares his candidacy, COMELEC will no longer allow the airing of the boxer’s previous fights.
“Ang masama ‘yung mga laban niya nung una ipapalabas sa TV (What’s prohibited is the TV airing of his past fights),” said Abalos.
Over the years, Pacquiao has been wooed by politicians to join politics.
Talk has it that he is being groomed by the administration Lakas-CMD to run as its mayoralty candidate in his native General Santos City for the May election. On Thursday, however, a report said that he is being considered as a congressional candidate in South Cotabato.
Pacquiao, however, maintained that his priority at this time is his boxing career.
Newspaper reports had said that Pacquiao might fight South Korean Injin Chi in Macau, China on April 28. The fight details, however, have yet to be finalized. Pacquiao is scheduled to meet with his promoter, Bob Arum, in Los Angeles on Wednesday to finalize fight plans.
