Solar Sports legal counsel Atty. Joseph Sagandoy Jr., through CS/9, has appeared to make an announcement regarding the issue between Manny Pacquiao's decision in nullifying his existing contract with Solar Sports for ABS-CBN in airing his May 3 fight with Ricky Hatton.
Atty. Joseph's statement reads, "The past few days created confusion over the broadcast rights to the succeeding bouts of Manny Pacquiao. A number of releases on newspapers, on the web, on the radio, and on national television have misled the public as to which Philippine media network will carry the next Pacquiao fight.
"Under a licensed agreement dated May 7, 2007, Manny Pacquiao and MP Promotion for valuable consideration, granted to Solar Entertainment the exclusive rights of all bouts of Manny Pacquiao from May 7, 2007 to May 6, 2011.
"Manny Pacquiao's attempt to recede the license agreement without any factual or legal basis is ill-advised. All third parties are warned against any unlawful interference with the license agreement. Solar shall avail of all its legal remedies to the fullest extent against any undue breach of or unlawful interference with the license agreement."
In an endnote to assure the public that Solar Sports is the sole broadcaster of Pacquiao's upcoming fights, he said, "Solar wishes to assure the public that the right to broadcast the upcoming Pacquiao-Hatton match scheduled this May 3 remain with Solar Entertainment."
SOLAR PRESIDENT SPEAKS. The president of Solar Entertainment Corp., Wilson Tieng, also expressed his wishes in broadcasting the Pacquiao-Hatton fight through Solar in a short yet positive statement. He said, "Along with the entire nation, Solar Entertainment is looking forward to the fight between the People's Champ and Ricky Hatton. This is a matter of opportunity for us to be proud to be a Filipino."