SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No, 2074

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines has produced numerous boxing greats including the likes of Anthony
Villanueva, Rene Barrientos, Eribito Salavarria, Dodie Boy Penalosa, Rolando Navarete,
Luisito Espinosa, Flash Elorde, Pancho Villa and the current "best pound for pound” fighter,
Manny Pacquiao along with up and coming fighter Nonito Donaire. These boxers brought
great pride to the Philippines.

However, for every Manny Pacquiao, there are hundreds of boxers who do not make
it big and even some of perish chasing their dreams. One of whom is the late Karlo Maquinto
who died because of a brain injury which he suffered during a bout last January 28, 2012.

His death raised the same questions which are brought up after a fighter dies or
suffers a very tragic accident while fighting. Questions which, unfortunately, are never
answered or addressed. In an article written by Quinito Henson, he reported that “what is
certain is the paramedics in a stand-by ambulance weren't prepared to care for Maquinto
when the tragedy happened. There was no provision for oxygen, neck brace or slant board.”
Further, he claims that when a stretcher was rolled in from the ambulance, Maquinto was
clumsily dragged from the ring onto the gumey.

It therefore seems that there may have been lapses on the part of the organizers and
‘even the Games and Amusements Board in not properly inspecting the ambulance facilities
which should have included a provision for oxygen and other medical and emergency
‘equipment.

Itis high time that we start protecting our boxers and regulating their industry in order
to ensure the safety and well-being and also protect them from coercive and misleading
contracts.

In view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is eamestly requested.

ll

MAXIMO B. RODRIGUEZ, JR.


SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS —_)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES )
‘Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

House Bill No. 0°74

AN ACT

REGULATING PROFESSIONAL BOXING AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress

assembled:

SECTION 1.

Title — This Act shall be known as the “Flash Elorde Act’.

SEC 2. Objectives — This Act is aimed at:

b.

Ensuring the safety and well-being of the boxers before,
during and after each bout that they participate in;

Protecting the rights and welfare of professional boxers by
preventing exploitive, oppressive and unethical business
practices;

Providing a proper oversight body of the professional boxing
industry;

Promoting honorable competition in professional boxing and
enhance the over-all integrity of the industry; and

Providing reforms in boxing agreements/contracts by, among
others, requiring enhanced financial disclosures in order to
improve public perception of the sport.

SEC 3. Definition of Terms — For purposes of this Act, the term:

a
b.
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4.

“Boxers” refers to an individual who fights in a professional boxing match’
"GAB" refers to the Games and Amusements Board;

“Manager” refers to a person who receives compensation for services as an
agent or representative of a boxer;

"Matchmaker" refers to a person who proposes, selects and arranges boxers to
participate in a professional boxing match;

“Professional Boxing Match” refers to a boxing contest held between
individuals for financial compensation;

“Licensee” refers to an individual who serves as a trainer, second, or cut man
for a boxer;

“Promoter” refers to a person primarily responsible for organizing, promoting,
and producing a professional boxing match; and

“Sanctioning Organization” refers to an organization authorized to sanction
professional boxing matches in the country.

SEC 4. Health and Safety Standards — No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce,
or fight in a professional boxing match without meeting each of the following requirements
that provide protection of the health and safety of boxers:


a. A physical examination of each boxer by a physician certifying whether or not
the boxer is physically fit to safely compete, copies of which must be provided
to the boxing commission;

b. An ambulance or medical personnel with appropriate resuscitation equipment
continuously present on site;

c. A competent and highly -trained physician continuously present at ringside;
and

d. Health insurance for each boxer to provide medical coverage for any injuries
sustained in the match.

SEC 5. Each boxer shall register with the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) which shall
issue to each professional boxer who registers an identification card that contains a recent
photograph of the boxer, a personal identification number assigned to the boxer by the GAB,
and such other pertinent information deemed necessary by the GAB

SEC 6. The GAB is hereby mandated to establish procedures to evaluate the professional
records and physician's certification of each boxer participating in a professional boxing
match and to deny authorization for a boxer to fight where appropriate for reasons including,
but not limited to the boxer:

suffering a recent knockout or series of consecutive losses;

suffering an injury;

requiring medical procedure;

being denied certification by a physician;

failing a drug test; or

Using false aliases, or falsifying, or attempting to falsify, official identification
cards or documents.

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SEC 7. Conflict of interest - No member or employee of the GAB or any person, who
administers or enforces boxing laws, may belong to, contract with, or receive any
compensation from, any person who sanctions, arranges, or promotes professional boxing
matches or who otherwise has a financial interest in an active professional boxer.

SEC 8. Required Disclosures to the GAB by Sanctioning Organizations — A sanctioning
‘organization, to be entitled to receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection
with a boxing match shall submit to the GAB the following:

a. Statement of all charges, fees and cost that the organization will assess on any
boxer participating in the match;

b. Statement of all payments, benefits and fees that the organization will receive
for its affiliation with the event, from the promoter, host of the event and other
sources; and

c. Other additional information as the GAB may require.

SEC 9. Required Disclosures for Promoters —

A) _ Disclosures to the GAB — A promoter to be entitled to receive any compensation,
directly or indirectly, in connection with a boxing match shall submit to the GAB the
following:

‘a. A copy of any agreement in writing to which the promoter is a party with any
boxer participating in the match;

b. A statement made under oath with corresponding penalty of perjury that there
are no other agreements, written or oral between the promoter and the boxer
with respect to the match; and


c. Statement of all fees, charges and expenses that will be assessed by or
through the promoter on the boxer pertaining to the match, including any
portion of the boxer's purse that the promoter will receive, and training
expenses, all payments, gifts or benefits that the promoter is providing to any
sanctioning organization affiliated with the match and any reduction in a
boxers purse contrary to previous agreements between the promoter and the
boxer or a purse bid held for the event.

B) _ Disclosures to the Boxer - A promoter to be entitled to receive any compensation,
directly or indirectly, in connection with a boxing match shall provide the boxer with
the following:

a. The amounts of any compensation or consideration that the promoter has
contracted or will receive from the match;

b. All fees, charges and expenses that will be assessed by or through the
promoter on the boxer pertaining to the match including any portion of the
boxer’s purse that the promoter will receive, and training expenses; and

c. Any reduction in the boxer’s purse contrary to an agreement between the
promoter and the boxer or a purse bid held for the event.

SEC 10. Required Disclosures for Judges and Referees ~ A judge or referee to be entitled
to receive any compensation, directly or indirectly, in connection with a boxing match shall
‘submit to the GAB a statement of all consideration, including reimbursement for expenses
that will be received from any source for participation in the match.

SEC 11. Judges and Referees — No person may arrange, promote, organize, produce or
fight in a professional boxing match unless al referees and judges participating in the match
have been certified and approved by the GAB.

SEC 12. Enforcement —

AA) Injunction — Whenever the Office of the Solicitor General has reasonable cause to believe
that a person or entity is engaged in a violation or has committed a violation of this Act, the
Solicitor General may bring a civil action in the appropriate court requesting such relief,
including a permanent or temporary injunction, restraining order, or other order, against the
person, as the Solicitor General determines to be necessary to restrain the person from
continuing to engage in, sanction, promote, or otherwise participate in a professional boxing
match in violation of this Act.

B) Criminal Penalties —

‘Any boxer, manager, promoter, matchmaker, and licensee who knowingly violates,
or coerces or causes any other person to violate, any provision of this Act shall, upon
conviction, be imprisoned for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years or fined
not more than P500,000, or both

SEC 13 Pension Study - The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment
(COLE) shall conduct a study on the feasibility and cost of a national pension system for
boxers, including potential funding sources. The Secretary of the DOLE shall, not later than
180 days after the effectivity of this Act, submit a report to the Congress on the findings of
the study conducted.

SEC 14. Implementing Rules and Regulations - The GAB, together with the Boxing
Associations of the Philippines shall promulgate the Rules and Regulations necessary for
the effective implementation of this Act.


SEC 15. Separability Clause — Should any of the provisions of this Act or any part thereof be
declared invalid, the other provisions, so far as they are separable from the invalid ones,
shall remain in full force and effect.

SEC 16. Repealing Clause — All laws, presidential decrees and issuances, executive orders,
rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

‘SEC 17. Effectivity — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)
newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,