By Ronnie Nathanielsz

The giant Philippine broadcast network ABS-CBN has reported that a bodyguard of Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao had shot and wounded a ten year old boy who was rushed to the St. Elizabeth Hospital in General Santos City.
 
Doctors at the hospital reportedly said the unidentified boy sustained a gunshot wound on the left palm and his right hand but is out of danger. ABS-CBN said the doctors declined to issue additional statements regarding the condition of the boy.
 
The report said the shooting took place at 2:00 p.m. on Monday but there were no other details.
 
Although there is a nationwide gun ban imposed by the Commission on Elections, Pacquiao was granted an exemption to carry firearms outside his residence because of alleged kidnapping threats to Pacquiao and members of his family. The approval for 20 firearams granted by the Comelec had earlier come under fire.
 
The shooting incident comes in the wake of reports that Pacquiao could be charged for registering twice for the May elections – on December 19 last year in Manila and later as a registered voter in General Santos City where he is running for a seat in congress against incumbent Darlene Antonino Custodio.
 
Pacquiao who is in the middle of a legal battle for his promotional rights between Golden Boy Promotions with whom he signed a seven-fight contract in mid-September last year and Top Rank with whom he signed a four-fight deal two months later is also having problems regarding several replays of his fight against Jorge Solis in violation of a Comelec ruling although Pacquiao himself is not being held liable by the election body.