Will Pacquiao be wearing an UNA mouthguard in Bradley fight?

 

Who says there's no politicking involved in Manny Pacquiao's  bout with US boxer Timothy Bradley?

 

A photo of the mouthguard that Pacquiao will purportedly wear in his April 9 fight was posted on Twitter by Los Angeles based dentist Dr. Ed dela Vega.

 

Guess who gets to use this on April 9th? #PacBradley3 @nickspeaks @abaccordero @ronnathanielsz @vegasbob1975 #boxing pic.twitter.com/4S1oQZgSnH

— Ed de la Vega,DDS (@Mouthgrds4Champ) March 17, 2016

 

The mouthguard which sports the Philippine tri-color also features the logo of the opposition party United Nationalist Alliance where Pacquiao is lined up as among its senatorial candidates in the May 9 elections.

 

There is no confirmation that Pacquiao would indeed be wearing the protective mouthpiece. 

 

Pacquiao's upcoming fight during the election period has been questioned before the Commission on Elections as the publicity generated before, during and after the fight would give him "undue advantage" in violation of the Fair Elections Act.

 

Former Akbayan party-list Rep. Walden Bello had formally requested the Comelec to see how the campaign limits on airtime would apply to the upcoming fight.

 

Bello, himself a senatorial candidate, filed the petition at the Comelec main office on Monday, days after he said Pacquiao's April 9 fight against Bradley gives him "undue advantage" against other senatorial candidates. 

 

An election lawyer however said that  Pacquiao cannot be disqualified from the May 9 elections because of his boxing match.

 

“There is no provision in election laws that would justify any complaint to disqualify him just because of the said boxing event,” Romulo Macalintal had said in a statement. 

 

The mouthguard design again raises questions whether it is considered a form of political propaganda that needs to be gauged if it is within the bounds of the provisions of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Elections Act. — APG, GMA News