No UNA mouthguard for Pacquiao —lawyer

The camp of Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao has denied that the boxing champ will use a mouthguard bearing the logo of his political party, the United Nationalist Alliance, during his fight with Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas on April 9.

Pacquiao's election lawyer, Romulo Macalinta, said no less than the Filipino boxing champion told him that the news reports were not true.

"When I heard about this report, I immediately texted him and inquired about the truth thereof. At around 6:40 o’clock in the evening, Manila time, I received his text reply denying said report. 'Hindi totoo yan, Atty. Mac,' Manny said," the lawyer said in a press statement sent to GMA News Online Monday.

Last week, a photo of the mouthguard that Pacquiao purportedly will wear in his fight was posted on Twitter by Los Angeles based dentist Dr. Ed dela Vega.

The mouthguard which sports the Philippine tri-color also features the logo of UNA, which has included Pacquiao in its senatorial line up for the May 9 elections.

Macalintal said he was sure that "Pacquiao knows that it would not be in good taste and he would be courting a political disaster if he would use such gadget during the fight or even during his practice sessions with media coverage."

He said whoever made the mouthguard did not consult Pacquiao before making it.

"Hence, it could be assumed that it was just part of an artwork or creativity of its maker and was never intended to be a campaign propaganda material for Manny who is a senatorial candidate of UNA in the May 9, 2016 elections," he said.

Macalintal added that Pacquiao "would rather focus his concentration on his training for his upcoming fight with Bradley than be distracted by such highly politicized mouthguard matter." —ALG, GMA News