MANILA, Philippines ? Manny Pacquiao delivered another stinging blow to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.
Pacquiao?s lawyer Franklin Gacal confirmed Friday that ?a promise of a political support? was dangled by ABS-CBN to entice the Filipino ring icon to sign up with the giant network and ditch his previous deal with Solar Sports to air his blockbuster fights on GMA Network Inc.
Gacal made the disclosure in a press conference yesterday, just four days after Pacquiao revealed in a teleconference that ABS-CBN had reneged on a news embargo agreement.
?He admitted to me that yes, there was a discussion on such issue, that he was promised political support on the forthcoming 2010 elections,? Gacal said during a press briefing at the Renaissance Hotel in Makati City.
?But I told him … it could possibly derail your candidacy. It could be a violation of the election code and other pertinent laws. I know for a fact that media should be neutral on the electoral process.?
ABS-CBN has denied in previous statements that it promised to help Pacquiao?s political plans.
Local media earlier reported that ABS-CBN had offered ?full media support to ensure [Pacquiao?s] victory in the 2010 congressional elections.?
In another released statement Friday, the influence-heavy media outfit stated it ?has said everything it will say on this topic.?
ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III said the network ?acted in an ethical manner? regarding Pacquiao?s aborted plans to transfer the television rights of his May 2 fight against Ricky Hatton.
Lopez said last Tuesday, ?We did not violate any restrictions in the embargo; there is no deal on the politics.?
Gacal said the world?s pound-for-pound king is ?hurting? from the ?conscious and well-planned grand design to malign him? just 35 days before his much-anticipated bout against the British ?Hitman.?
Pacquiao said he had an agreement with ABS-CBN that the statement on his transfer would not be aired until it has been proven that Solar Sports had committed a breach of contract.
On March 18, the video of his statement from Los Angeles was shown on the ABS-CBN news show ?TV Patrol World? where he said he personally approached ABS-CBN and decided to give it the right to air his fights.
Pacquiao had claimed it was an ABS-CBN lawyer who wrote that statement and added he was under the impression that the tape would be embargoed.
Maria Ressa, ABS-CBN senior vice president for News and Current Affairs, told the Philippine Daily Inquirer in a previous interview that the network ?would not have aired Pacquiao?s statement without his consent.?
Gacal said Pacquiao ?categorically denies that he approached ABS-CBN.?
He said it was ABS-CBN?s sports reporter Dyan Castillejo who approached Pacquiao last February ?with the idea? that his fights be ?aired on their TV station.?
Gacal added the 30-year-old slugger ?admits he is not without fault for this mess? and he was ?too trusting and too accommodating, too shy to say no.?
?Money was never a main consideration when he entertained ABS-CBN,? said Gacal. ?In fact, the documents he signed did not even stipulate what the full and total financial considerations were to be granted him by ABS-CBN.?
