Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao said he is “hurting” over the controversy created by his failed transfer to ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., his lawyer, Atty. Franklin “Jeng” Gacal, said Friday.

In a press statement read by Gacal, Pacquiao denied that he initiated the talks for his transfer to ABS-CBN.

“According to Manny Pacquiao, sometime last February before he left for training camp, it was Ms Dyan Castillejo, a sports reporter for ABS-CBN, who approached him with the idea that ABS-CBN wants his forthcoming fight with Ricky Hatton aired on their TV station,” read Gacal.

Pacquiao also said his transfer to ABS-CBN was “not about the money”. He said there was no mention about the “financial considerations” when he signed the documents prepared by ABS-CBN.

“Yes he admits he is not without fault for this mess. He was too trusting, and too accommodating, too shy to say no,” Gacal said.

Support for electoral bid?

Pacquiao’s lawyer said that there was a “promise” given to his client to encourage the fighter to rescind his contract to Solar Sports Entertainment.

“There was a promise made to Manny that ABS-CBN would give full support to him in the elections. But I advised him not to accept such offer cause this is against the election code,” said Gacal.

The boxer also claimed that he was made to believe by a lawyer from ABS-CBN that there was a violation on the part of Solar Entertainment, allegedly spurring him to decide on his transfer.
 
“However, he requested ABS-CBN that everything will be finalized only after he will be able to consult his own lawyer and advisers on the alleged contract violations of Solar,” read Pacquiao’s lawyer.

Gacal, however, did not identify the ABS-CBN lawyer they were referring to.

He said ABS-CBN offered to buy out Pacquiao's contract from Solar but was rejected because the ABS-CBN offer was reportedly “too low."

ABS-CBN said it has already had its say on the boxer’s claim.

'All-out support'

ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III encouraged the public to support Manny Pacquiao instead of wallowing in the controversy brought about the boxer’s failed transfer.

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

He said ABS-CBN News has addressed Pacquiao’s situation in an ethical manner and that there was no offer from the network to support the boxer in the upcoming elections.

“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.”

Lopez also made it clear that it was not the network that initiated the talk. “Hindi tayo ang nagkuha sa kanya. He approached us,” he said.

The network said that although it understands GMA-7’s disappointment over Pacquiao’s decision, it warned the rival station from 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,” said ABS-CBN.

ABS-CBN said it thanked Pacquiao for considering the transfer.

“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.” With a report from TJ Manotoc, ABS-CBN News

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