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In a five-page letter to the election commission, Pacquiao,
37, said that as a candidate for the May elections, he was
allowed TV and radio air time for political advertisements and
that his fight will not consume all of the allotted time.
The commission on Tuesday said it may bar broadcasts of
Pacquiao's bid to win back the world welterweight title next
month from reigning WBO welterweight champion Bradley because it
could give him an unfair advantage in the elections.
"There is obviously no case of undue advantage or undue exposure
for Pacquiao as the same rights and privileges are extended by
law to all said candidates," Pacquiao said through his lawyers.
The bout will take a maximum of 36 minutes for a 12-round fight,
or less if the fight does not go the distance. Under the law,
all candidates are given up to 120-minute TV and 180-minute
radio advertisements per station.
Pacquiao's description of gays as "worse than animals" last
month drew criticism on social media at home and abroad, and
cost him an endorsement deal with Nike, the world's largest
sportswear maker.
The election commission is expected to make a ruling on the
broadcasts soon.
On May 9, more than 54 million people in the Philippines will
vote for a president, vice-president, 300 lawmakers and
thousands of local government posts.
Pacquiao, who has also courted controversy with comments on
same-sex marriage, is running for one of 12 vacant seats in the
Senate, the upper house of parliament.
(Reporting by Manuel Mogato; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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