MANILA, Philippines – The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said it will fully support its senatorial bet, Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao, in whatever decision he makes on the possible blocking of the telecast of his upcoming match with Timothy Bradley Jr.
Lawyer Rico Quicho, campaign spokesperson for UNA standard-bearer Vice President Jejomar Binay, said in an interview on radio dzMM that the party gives its candidates the freedom to do what they think is best for their respective campaigns.
“Kaya nga po tayo, 110% po na sumusuporta kay Congressman Manny at tiwala naman po kami na ito pong issue na ito ay pinagaaralan pong mabuti ng kanyang mga abogado (We are supporting Congressman Manny 110% and we trust that this issue is being carefully studied by his lawyers),” Quicho said on Wednesday, March 2.
Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman Andres Bautista said the poll body may block the Philippine telecast of Pacquiao’s match in Las Vegas on April 9, exactly a month before election day.
This comes after former party-list representative Walden Bello, another senatorial aspirant, filed a petition before the Comelec, saying that airing Pacquiao’s fight would give him "a tremendous advantage in terms of publicity." This, he said, is a violation of airtime limits for candidates.
The Comelec gave Pacquiao 5 days to comment on the petition.
Issue is about Pacquiao, not UNA
UNA distanced itself from the controversy, saying Pacquiao’s upcoming fight with Bradley is the lawmaker’s "personal endeavor" and will not affect the rest of the opposition ticket's campaign.
Quicho made the statement when asked if UNA will also get undue advantage from Pacquiao's fight.
“Kung baga ito po ay laban mismo ni Congressman Manny kaya nga po tayo ni Vice President Binay ay habang siya po ay nakafocus talaga sa pag-iikot sa iba’t-ibang mga lalawigan para po maipahiwatig ‘yung kaniyang mensahe na kinakailangang labanan ang kahirapan. ‘Yung mga ibang mga kandidato po natin ay may ibang ginagawa rin po,” said Quicho.
(This is a fight of Congressman Manny himself, that’s why Vice President Binay is focused on going around the provinces to deliver his message of fighting poverty. The other candidates have their own endeavours as well.)
He said that UNA will provide guidance to Pacquiao if asked.
This is the second controversy faced by Pacquiao this campaign season. In February, he came under fire for saying in a television interview that couples in same-sex unions are “worse than animals." He defended his stand, quoting the Bible, but later apologized to those he hurt.
UNA had said that will keep Pacquiao in its senatorial slate despite the controversy that had given the boxer his worst beating, image-wise. The boxing icon, the biggest crowd drawer in the opposition party’s Senate slate, has been in the winners' circle of senatorial bets based on polls. – Rappler.com