GAB READY TO ASSIST PACQUIAO
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Sat, 02 Jul 2005
The Games and Amusements Board yesterday unequivocally threw its support to Filipino ring idol Manny Pacquiao, saying it will be more than ready to assist the southpaw superstar if and when he decides to have his former business manager Rod Nazario probed for allegedly mishandling his financial affairs in his US fights.
It has been reported that Pacquiao's American lead counsel Judd Burstein has suggested that Nazario be investigated following what he called "out and out lies" concerning matters with regards to Pacquiao's tax obligations with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
"The GAB's mandate is over the affairs of our champion Manny Pacquiao. If Manny requests such investigation from the GAB, then we will conduct the investigation," said GAB chairman Eric Buhain when sought for comment yesterday.
Burstein's suggestion to have Nazario probed came on the heels of a well-publicized settlement between Pacquiao and his ex-promoter Murad Muhammad before an 8-man jury could hand down a verdict on the $33 Million suit lodged by the Filipino star against Muhammad.
The settlement, dubbed by boxing experts as a "technical knockout victory" by Pacquiao, saw Muhammad ponying up undisclosed amount of monies for Pacquiao's legal expenses plus a ballpark amount to finally clinch the settlement.
Buhain, however, cautioned that should Nazario be probed, "the investigation will be based only on valid and verifiable allegations, and qualified that as far as the US court is concerned, "we can only assist if they may need assistance for their own courts of law, like we did in Manny's New York court win thru copies of contracts, etc."
The GAB chairman further warned that if the request comes from US courts or Pacquiao's US lawyers to conduct an investigation in the Philippines, "that would not be the appropriate procedure."
Nazario, the man credited for Pacquiao's successful professional boxing career one of the country's most prominent boxing personalities, has maintained that he has not committed any wrongdoing in managing the affairs of his former ward.
"Pacquiao should stop whatever plans he has against Nazario. Let's face it, the man has made him what he is today. He should be a role model by observing a long-revered trait of honoring debt of gratitude," said a source who requested anonymity.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
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