Ni Edwin Rollon

IBINASURA ng Muaythai Association of the Philippines (MAP) ang planong pagbuo ng Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission ni Senator Manny Pacquiao bunsod ng kawalan nito ng kahalagahan sa professional atletes at sa Philippine pro sports sa kasalukuyan.

Batay sa isinumiteng ‘position paper’ ng MAP na may petsang Setyembre 13 at may lagda nina MAP president and chairman Gen. (ret.) Lucas Managuelod at Secretary General Pearl Anne Managuelod sa isinagawang Senate hearing kahapon, iginiit ng MAP na ang Senate Bill 1306 (Philippine Boxing and Combat Sports Commission Act of 2018) na akda ni Sen. Pacquiao ay ‘irrelevant and unnecessary’.

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“After careful reconsideration of the proposed bill, the Muaythai Association of the Philippines expresses its continued support to the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) as the only governing body for professional sports in the country.

“The formulation of as new commission is redundant in its mandate with GAB and will overlap with the existing powers, duties and functions performed by GAB, thus deeming it irrelevant and unnecessary. MAP sees no benefit in the proposed commission,” ayon sa MAP.

“GAB was at the forefront in providing assistance from the start of pandemic and has always looked after the welfare of professional athletes. At this time, all funds should be aligned in the fight against COVID-19 and this bill will be untimely and insensitive to the plight of the Filipino people,” anila.

Bago maisailalim sa lockdown ang bansa dulot ng pandemic, mariin nang inayawan ng grupo ng boxing promoters, match makers at managers, gayundin ng iba’t ibang asosasyon sa wrestling at mixed martial arts, sa pangunguna ni Universal Reality Combat Championship (URCC) founder Alvin Aguilar ang naturang Senate Bill dahil sa pagiging ‘copycat’ sa gawain at adbokasiya ng GAB na nangangasiwa sa professional sports mula pa noong 1951.

“GAB is working closely with athletes and professional leagues and organization. Walang negative sa GAB, talagang trabaho para sa sports. During the pandemic,lalong naramdaman yung tulong ng GAB. Yung mga benefits na sinasabi sa Senate Bill, ginagawa nay an ng GAB noon pa,” sambit ni Aguilar, pangulo rin ng Wrestling Association of the Philippines at Jiu-jitsu Association.

Ikinalugod naman ni GAB Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra ang hangarin ni Senator Pacquiao para sa kabutihan ng atleta, partikular ang mga boxers, na aniya’y siyang prioridad at tinutukan ng ahensiya mula nang maitalaga sa GAB ng Pangulong Duterte kasama sina Commissioners Ed Trinidad at Mar Masanguid.

“While we support the honorable Senators desire to assist contact sports and boxing but it may not be a good time now as we are facing a pandemic and all government resources/efforts are geared towards that. We at gab feel that we have already improved our services and applied the many advices that the good senator has instructed us to do,” pahayag ni Mitra.