Ex-Comelec chief advises Pacquiao to postpone Bradley fight

MANILA, Philippines — Former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chair Sixto Brillantes on Tuesday advised senatorial aspirant and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel "Manny" Pacquiao to postpone his boxing match in April to avoid legal repercussions.

Pacquiao has a scheduled match against Timothy Bradley on April 9, a month before the May elections.

"... (S)uch coverage would surely provide him an enormous advantage over all other candidates. Difficult would be to deny that it was not deliberate," Brillantes said a statement posted on Twitter.

My opinion on Pacquiao fight controversy. @mannypacquiao pic.twitter.com/SLj94wz2Ww

— Sixto Brillantes Jr. (@ChairBrillantes) March 1, 2016

The former poll body chief added that April 9 would also be the start of voting for overseas voters and campaigning abroad would already prohibited by that time.

Brillantes noted that Pacquiao's fight, which will be broadcast worldwide, will cater to overseas voters.

The former Comelec chief also argued that pay-per-view nationwide coverage will appear as a product endorsement of a candidate, which is prohibited during campaign period.

"The reason being it provides added propaganda advertisement to one's candidacy besides earning financially from such product endorsement," Brillantes said.

Allowing Pacquiao to practice his profession during campaign period also gives him added exposure which is not allowed among movie actors and actresses, television and radio broadcasters and other national celebrities, Brillantes said.

"Pacquiao is not only a nationwide but a worldwide personality," the former Comelec chief said.

Comelec Chair Juan Andres "Andy" Bautista earlier said that he had tasked the poll agency's law department to look into the case of Pacquiao.

"If you're an endorser who decided to run for public office, you have to stop your endorsements during campaign period," Bautista said.

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