The Philippines' election commission on Tuesday said that "it may bar local broadcasts of boxing icon Manny Pacquiao's bid to win back the world welterweight title next month because it could give him an unfair advantage over rival candidates in an election a month later," according to Manuel Mogato of REUTERS. Pacquiao "will fight American Timothy Bradley, reigning WBO welterweight champion, for a third time in April, exactly a month before he contests an election for one of 12 vacant seats in the upper house of Congress." Commission on Elections Chair
Andres Bautista said, "We have some form of control, or regulatory supervision, over entities which have a franchise during the election period."
Bautista said that "the commission could prohibit public broadcasts in the Philippines of the fight." He said,
"That could be possible, but as to whether we can stop him from fighting, that's different."
The poll body has given Pacquiao "five days to comment on the issue before making a final ruling."
Bautista said that "the poll body's law department has presented several options for Pacquiao, including a partial restriction on the airing of his fight."
Pacquiao "pointed out that he had also fought a month before polling in past elections" (REUTERS, 3/1).
