Ikinagalak ni eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao ang desisyon ng Commission on Elections (Comelec) na balewalain ang reklamo para ipagbawal ang pagpapalabas sa Pilipinas ng kanyang laban kay dating World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight king Timothy Bradley Jr. sa Abril 9 sa MGM Grand sa Las Vegas.
“I’m very happy right now because the Comelec came up with a favorable decision. This further motivates me to work hard to ensure victory,” pahayag ni Pacquiao sa kanyang text message.
Idinagdag pa ni Pacquiao na taimtim siyang nagdasal upang bigyan ng malinaw na pag-iisip at gabayan ang mga Comelec official.
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Dumulog sa Comelec si independent senatorial bet Walden Bello upang mabatid kung lalabagin ang election laws kapag ipinalabas sa telebisyon ang Pacquiao-Bradley bout dahil kumakandidato si Pacquiao bilang senador sa May 9 polls.
Iginiit ni Bello na magkakaroon si Pacquiao nang malaking bentahe sa kanyang mga kapwa senatorial candidates dahil sa international at local media coverage ng ikatlong laban ng Pambansang Kamao kay Bradley.
“If you notice, April or May and November or December are the usual schedules of my fight abroad. Bradley rematch was in April 2014 and the Mayweather mega-buck fight was May last year. It’s not the fighter but the promoter who decides the date of the fight,” paliwanag ni Pacquiao.
Nagpasya ang Comelec noong Martes na wala silang kapangyarihan na pigilin ang telecast ng Pacquiao-Bradley trilogy.
“That is not within our control. We are not in a position right now to stop it because of the three parameters that we found,” pahayag ni Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista. “There was really no formal complaint that was filed in accordance with Comelec rules and procedures. Courts are not supposed to rule on hypothetical or contingent possibility. We are supposed to rule on actual controversy involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable.” (Gilbert Espeña)
