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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Government intervention

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WE must confess that while we initially supported the position of th Games and Amusements Board chairman Ramon “Monju” Guanzon that London Olympian, light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga and multi-titled lightweight Charly Suarez needed to follow the rules and secure a professional boxing license from the GAB, we hadn’t received the position of the International governing body—AIBA—on the subject, nor that of the National Sports Association, the ABAP.

Now that we have been able to get the position of the International governing body, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee on the issue and have researched thoroughly on the operative laws, rules and regulations, we have a rather different view of the situation.

To begin with, the AIBA has made it clear  that Barriga and Suarez would be prevented from competing in the Olympic Games even if they qualify in the tournaments staged by AIBA should they be forced to obtain professional boxing licenses from the GAB, which chairman Guanzon insists they do.

Our underlying interest is that the two boxers, widely acknowledged as the finest prospects at present in our country’s search for an elusive Olympic gold medal, are not the ultimate victims of the arrogance and pigheadedness on the side of the GAB .

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GAB chairman Guanzon insists on the boxers obtaining a GAB license based on his erroneous appreciation of his agency’s powers stemming from the Executive Order series of 1951 signed by President Manuel Roxas, while refusing to acknowledge the fact that Republic Act 6847, which established the Philippine Sports Commission over-rides an EO because it is the law of the land.

The EO is limited in scope and states that the GAB was created “to supervise and regulate the operations of professional sports and amusement games in the country. As such, its mandated functions are geared towards ensuring the safety and protection of the betting public, inculcating the value of honesty, discipline and sportsmanship among the practitioners and elevating professional sports to a level at par with the world’s best.”

However, RA 6847 Sec. 13 states that “The National sports association recognized by the Commission (meaning the PSC) shall be autonomous and shall have exclusive technical control over the promotion and development of the particular sport for which they are organized” even as it makes reference to the NSA for a particular sport  that is affiliated with the International federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

The GAB website itself as pointed out by Ed Picson, executive director of ABAP, “issues licenses upon application of an athlete,” which clearly implies that the GAB cannot force any boxer to apply for a license.

When we suggested to chairman Guanzon that he let the boxers be and allow them to continue their determined efforts to hopefully qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil and chase that elusive gold medal, he vehemently objected. In fact, Guanzon  said he would issue a hold order through the Bureau of Immigration to prevent Barriga and Suarez from leaving the country to participate in AIBA tournaments. Sounds to me like the arrogance of power.

Little does he realize that he would have to convince the Department of Justice on the legal basis for the issuance of a hold departure order and not merely his opinion.

Guanzon also refuses to accept the fact that the IOC frowns on government intervention in sports and the GAB which is under the Office of the President is a government agency and its demand that Barriga and Suarez obtain professional boxing licenses is tantamount to government  intervention in the affairs of an autonomous National Sports Association and could result in the suspension not just of the ABAP but also the Philippines.

Guanzon proclaimed: “I have already decided and am willing to face the music.”

Trouble is, neither he nor the GAB will be sanctioned for refusing to adapt to the music of the times, although the public backlash is likely to reach a crescendo.

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