GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Filipino boxing icon Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao filed a P30 million libel suit against four journalists of Manila Bulletin last week in connection with his deal to endorse sports-related products for Fortune 500 giant Nike, his legal counsel said.
Lawyer Franklin Gacal stressed the contract with Nike, which was signed last year, states that Pacquiao should maintain a “good image.”
“The moment he will have a bad image is considered a violation of the contract,” Gacal said Thursday in the local television program “Magandang Umaga Soccsksargen.”
Named respondents were Manila Bulletin sportswriter Nick Giongco, publisher Hermogenes P. Pobre, editor-in-chief Cris J. Icban Jr., and Sports section editor Ding Marcelo.
In an article titled “Trouble in Paradise-again?” published on July 25, Giongco wrote, “Pacquiao, who spent millions in an unsuccessful bid to win a congressional seat in his hometown in General Santos City, is reported to be a compulsive gambler and is known to bet hundreds of thousands in casinos, cockfighting and billiards.”
Gacal asserted such write-up tarnished the image of Pacquiao, who is considered a national hero for his exploits in the canvass, and may cause him to lose his worldwide endorsement deal with Nike.
The lawyer cited the adjective “compulsive gambler” as “damaging to the image of the boxer.”
“When you say compulsive gambler, it pertains to a behavior or act independent of your freewill. In other words, [you’re an] addict,” Gacal said.
Although his client goes to casinos, cockfighting, and billiards, the lawyer said the boxer “is not addicted to these games.”
While Gacal did not give monetary details of the contract between Pacquiao and Nike, even ordinary sports fans believed it is a lucrative deal, citing previous Nike endorsers in the likes of basketball icon Michael Jordan.
In a www.philboxing.com article, Giongco reportedly declined to comment on the libel case slapped against him by the boxer since the former has not received a copy of the case.
Philboxing.com reported also that Giongco was unfazed because he said he wrote the article “in good faith and without any malice whatsoever.”
“What will Mr. Giongco get if he will maliciously slander a national icon who is also his friend for a long time?” Philboxing.com quoted an unidentified fellow sportswriter as saying.
