MANILA, Philippines ? A Malaca?ang official stressed that President Arroyo did not have a hand in Manny Pacquiao?s recent decision to stick it out with broadcast network Solar Sports, reports said today.
The statement came amid speculations that Mrs. Arroyo? alleged ?advice? to Pacquaio to stay with Solar was rooted in the fact that First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo owns a stake in the network.
The Palace official added that the President has other more-important issues to tend to.
From Los Angeles where he is currently training for the fight with Ricky Hatton, Pacquiao announced on Mar. 18 that he had rescinded his live pact with Solar. He said that all his subsequent fights will be broadcasted over ABS-CBN instead.
This has sent top Solar executives packing for Los Angeles to assure Pacquiao that Solar and GMA-7 — and not any other network — will telecast the Pacquiao-Hatton fight, scheduled on May 2.
The dispute reportedly stemmed from Pacquiao?s claim that Solar was late in paying the fighter what is due him for the past fights aired by the network. Pacquiao then added that ABS-CBN, GMA-7?s rival network, will instead air all of his subsequent bouts
But on Mar. 21, Pacquiao announced he has patched things up with Solar, saying he will now honor his contract with the broadcast network.
This ended the four-day stand-off between the current pound-for-pound king and the Solar, which threatened to go to court once Pacquiao formally rescinds the live pact.
