ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III has urged the public to support Manny Pacquiao despite the trouble caused by his recent "dispute" with Solar Entertainment.

“Suportahan na lang natin si Manny, he's a very good boxer and after all, he is a Filipino hero,” said Mr. Lopez during a forum he held Tuesday with ABS-CBN employees.

He added that Pacquiao means a lot to the country as “he brings a lot of joy ang pride to all of us Filipinos.”

Lopez also stressed that ABS-CBN News has addressed Pacquiao’s situation in an ethical manner.

“Ang masasabi ko lang is that we acted in an ethical manner, we did not violate any of the restrictions on the embargo,” he said. “There is no deal on the politics.”

This was contrary to claims that ABS-CBN News violated its agreement with the boxer concerning the airing of his announcement aside from talks that it will help Pacquiao in his political ambitions.

Lopez said Pacquiao approached ABS-CBN for obvious reasons.

“Ang promotion, ang reach ng ABS-CBN is far better than anything he has seen in GMA in the last year. That's the true reason why he wanted to move. He rescinded his contract he decided to join us… eh nagkagulo,” he said.

Lopez, meanwhile, assured that Pacquiao’s decision to return to Solar and GMA-7 will not change ABS-CBN’s diligence in covering events related to the fighter.

The ABS-CBN chairman added that the network respects Pacquiao’s decision to return to GMA-7 even as he urged the public to continue supporting their hero.

“Now that he's decided to go back to GMA, suportahan na lang natin siya and wish him well,” said Mr. Lopez.

abs-cbnNEWS.com is the online news department of ABS-CBN Interactive Inc., a subsidiary of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp.