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ABS-CBN releases another statement to answer Manny Pacquiao’s recent announcements through his lawyer Atty. Gacal.
ABS-CBN has said everything it will say on this topic. Please refer to our earlier statements.
Here are the facts:
March 14, 2009 – Manny Pacquiao recorded a statement that he asked be embargoed. That statement has never aired.
March 17, 2009 – Pacquiao recorded another statement saying that he came to ABS-CBN to air his next fights. He later approved that statement for airing, and our newscasts aired it on Wednesday, March 18.
March 19, 2009 – In an interview while training, he asked viewers to support him and watch his fight on ABS-CBN.
March 20, 2009 – Pacquiao again declared in an ABS-CBN interview that “my decision [is]still the same. Fight mapapanood sa ABS-CBN.”
March 20, 2009 – ABS-CBN said, “We understand GMA7’s disappointment about the decision of Manny Pacquiao to have ABS-CBN as its media partner, but it should avoid making thinly veiled accusations based on a columnist’s speculation. It alleges that ABS-CBN’s supremacy in reach is to be used for Manny Pacquiao’s political plans—which is not true.”
March 21, 2009 – ABS-CBN released another statement: “Manny Pacquiao approached ABS-CBN to be his media partner in airing his next fights. We thank him for trusting us. He signed a contract with us, but we will not stand in the way if he decides to change his mind. We respect it, wish him good luck, and we wait to hear from him.”
March 22, 2009 – ABS-CBN reacts to Pacquiao’s accusations of violating an embargo on his video: “When Manny Pacquiao came to us to air his fights, we were happy. We accept that he has changed his mind. And even if he signed a contract with us, we welcome a resolution and wish him well on his fight.
We respond because this charge strikes at our core values as a news organization: honest reporting and respect for our sources. Regardless, we continue to report on Manny Pacquiao’s activities and respect his decision to enter into any arrangement with any company regarding his fights.”
March 24, 2009 – Statement of ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio Lopez III was aired on “TV Patrol World”: “Suportahan na lang natin si Manny. He is a very good boxer and after all, he is a Filipino hero. He brings a lot of pride and joy to all of us Filipinos. Si Manny ang nag-approach sa atin. Hindi tayo ang nagkuha sa kanya. He approached us. He wanted to move to ABS-CBN for obvious reasons. Ang promotion, ang reach ng ABS ay far better than anything he has seen in GMA in the last year. That is the true reason why he wanted to move. He rescinded his contract. He decided to join us. Nagkagulo. Ang masasabi ko lang, we acted in an ethical manner. We did not violate any restrictions in the embargo. There is no deal on the politics. Now he has decided to go back to GMA, suportahan na lang natin siya and wish him well.”
ABS-CBN’s airing of Manny Pacquiao’s fights will not violate his contract with GMA, which prohibits Pacquiao from appearing on “any television program, show, promotion or event of any other broadcast media entity.” Manny’s fights are not programs, shows, promotion, or events of ABS-CBN. As the media partner of Manny Pacquiao, the Kapamilya network will only be airing Pacquiao’s boxing matches that will produced by Top Rank.
We also believe that there is no basis for Solar Entertainment Corporation to take legal action. ABS-CBN did not violate Solar’s rights. Pacquiao rescinded his contract with Solar before he approached ABS-CBN to be his media partner. We merely welcomed him as a Kapamilya.
