MANILA, Philippines — Fans of boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao in General Santos City can watch and enjoy television footages of his sparring sessions as well as his much-awaited fight on Sunday against undefeated Mexican Jorge Solis.
But advertisements to promote the fight and interviews outside Pacquiao’s sparring sessions are banned in the city, which is part of the first district of South Cotabato province, where he is running for congressman, the Commission on Elections ruled Thursday.
“The advertisements (to promote the fight) can be shown here in Metro Manila but television networks have to be careful,” Commissioner Rene Sarmiento told the Philippine Daily Inquirer, parent company of INQUIRER.net. “They cannot show these in GenSan.”
Sarmiento said networks which would violate the resolution, approved by the Comelec just Thursday afternoon, could also be held liable.
Replays of Pacquiao’s previous bouts are also not allowed in Gen. Santos City since these have nothing to do with the actual fight, the Comelec said.
Interviews immediately after the fight, as long as they are part of the actual coverage, could also be allowed in GenSan, Sarmiento said, although he later clarified that this was based on his personal interpretation of the resolution.
But interviews during pre-fight press conferences and other activities should not be aired in the city, Sarmiento added.
Lawyer Sixto Brillantes had earlier asked the Comelec to stop the printing and airing of commercial advertisements featuring Pacquiao as this would give him undue advantage over his rival, incumbent Rep. Darlene Antonino-Custodio, who is seeking reelection.
