This round goes to boxing icon Manny Pacquiao.
“The bout between Pacquiao and American Timothy Bradley on April 9 (April 10 in Manila) in Las Vegas will be broadcast live as scheduled after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) yesterday made a unanimous decision that it is not within its power to stop the telecast,” reports Sheila Crisostomo in The Philippine Star.
Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista explained: “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.” He added that “there was really no formal complaint that was filed in accordance with Comelec rules and procedures.”
The report noted: “Former Akbayan party-list representative Walden Bello and former senator Rene Saguisag had asked the Comelec to determine if the telecast of the Pacquiao-Bradley bout would violate election laws, noting that the Sarangani representative is also running for senator in the May 9 polls. They were concerned that the international and local media coverage of the fight would give Pacquiao undue advantage over other senatorial candidates.”
Bautista further noted, “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.” Moreover, he said the Comelec believes that there is no “justiciable controversy” surrounding the event.
