Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Election officials are studying whether or not Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming boxing match against American pugilist Timothy Bradley conflicts with his candidacy for senator.
In particular the Comelec will check whether the televised match violates rules on election campaign propaganda.
On Monday (February 22), former Akbayan party list congressman and now senatorial candidate Walden Bello formally asked the Comelec to look into Pacquiao’s case.
Bello argues that the exposure the fighting congressman of the Philippines will receive from the coverage and promotion of the fight will exceed campaign propaganda limits, giving Pacquiao an undue advantage over other candidates.
Related: Senatorial candidate: Bradley match gives Pacquiao undue advantage
Comelec chairman Andy Bautista said Pacquiao’s case is unique because the law is mum on athletes who run for public office.
“Yung kay Pacquiao, pinag-usapan din kahapon at ang naging direktiba ng en banc ay inatasan namin ang law department na pag-aralan at magbigay ng recommendation sa susunod na en banc,” said Bautista. “Hindi pa nagaganap yung laban eh. Kaya parang it’s a hypothetical problem.”
[Translation: In regards to Pacquiao’s case, we talked about it and the directive from en banc is that we asked the law department to study and give a recommendation to the en banc… The fight hasn’t happened yet. It is like a hypothetical problem”]
Under the implementing rules of the Fair Election Act, candidates for national posts can have 120 minutes of TV exposure per station – and 180 minutes on radio, also per station.
Watch: Pacquiao’s anti-LGBT remarks seen to affect senatorial bid
