Image Source: South China Morning Post
Election watchdog Democracy Watch said that more than the legal implications of Sarangani representative and UNA senatorial candidate Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming boxing match, a bigger issue is the athlete-politician’s priorities.
While legal experts have conflicting views on the legality of airing the April 9 fight, the voting public should remember that the boxing icon attended only four session days at the House of Representatives in 2014, said Claudette Guevara, Democracy Watch-Secretary General.
“If his performance as congressman was any preview, we can conclude that the many hats he wears – as boxer, basketball coach, actor, commercial endorser, and others – have compromised his law-making duties,” she said.
“Prioritizing this fight and his boxing career when he is an incumbent congressman indicates that he is not taking public service seriously,” Guevara added.
The group also called for the COMELEC to ensure the rule of law is strictly enforced in the potentially tricky case, guided by the Fair Elections Act, which seeks to put all candidates in equal footing.
Pacquiao’s Las Vegas rematch with Timothy Bradley is on April 9, which falls within the campaign period and will definitely give undue advantage. Other so-called celebrity candidates have to temporarily veer away from the limelight or discontinue the practice of their craft or entertainment profession.
Lloyd Ian Zaragoza, co-convenor of Democracy Watch likewise urged the Comelec to exercise its regulatory and supervisory powers over broadcast and media entities in ensuring that our election laws are not subverted. The swift and decisive filing of appropriate cases against violators should be their utmost priority, he said.
“It is hard to believe that the scheduling of Paquiao’s boxing match at the height of the national campaign period was not part of his political strategy to win in the senatorial race, if he believes in fairness in being an athlete, he should practice the same as a candidate for the Senate,” said Zaragoza.