BUHAIN OUT AS GAB CHAIRMAN, BOXERS SUFFER IN ABSENCE OF OFFICIALS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 22 Mar 2010
Eric Buhain has been removed as chairman of the Games and Amusements Board and appointed as a director of the Bureau of Immigration by President Arroyo.
Insidesports.ph, Standard Today and Viva Sports was only able to confirm the report of Buhain’s appointment as a BID director which apparently took effect on March 15, last Friday. The BID position carries a guaranteed six year term although the appointment may be questioned as a violation of the election ban.
WBC president Don Jose Sulaiman told us "what a surprise. I was not aware of it. I hope the WBC will not suffer with the substititon" since Buhain was a vice president of the WBC, served as supervior in some world championship bouts and had a good working relationship with Sulaiman and the WBC.
The former multi-titled Southeast Asian Games swimmer who also represented the Philippines in the Asian Games and the Olympics, was originally appointed as Chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission but was transferred to the GAB as chairman which was regarded as effectively a demotion.
Appointed as OIC of the GAB was Commissioner Ramon Guanzon of Bacolod City. He was orignally named commissioner with the backing of congressman Monico Puentevella who is known to be a political ally of President Arroyo.
However, Guanzon and fellow commissioner Angel Bautista as well as Boxing Division chief Dr. Nasser Cruz flew to Dallas, Texas to watch “The Event” between Manny Pacquiao and Joshua Clottey. Upon his return the OIC took a connecting flight to his hometown of Bacolod and was reportedly ill and unable to report to the GAB office where there were several pending papers.
As a result boxers Joel De La Cruz and James Bacon who were requested by well-known Japanese boxing manager/matchmaker and media man Joe Koizumi to serve as sparring partners for Jorge Linares who is managed by well-known businessman Akihiko Honda couldn’t leave for Tokyo.
The problem was compounded by what trainer Juanito Ablaca said was a sudden change in GAB rules and the absence of any official in authority to approve the fighters departure.
The longtime trainer told us the GAB had changed its rules and required the fighters to undergo a medical test and get a certification from the Manila office, refusing to accept a certification from the GAB regional office in Cebu which has been performing the function for years.
Ablaca said he had travelled to Manila to facilitate the clearances but because of the new rules and the delay the Koizumi and the Japanese cancelled the trip which resulted in loss of earnings for the two boxers as well as the expenses incurred in the travel to Manila from Cebu by Ablaca.
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