FIFTEENTH CONGRESS )
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES —)
Second Regular Session )

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES \'

=
Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

97

House Bill No.
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 gurney.

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.

It is 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 earnestly requested.

RUFUS B. RODRIGUEZ

wll ahines JR.


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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Introduced by Representative Rufus B. Rodriguez and
Representative Maximo B. Rodriguez, Jr.

9?

House Bill No.
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 Reform Act of

2012."

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:

b.
CS

d.

“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;


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

h. “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 §. 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:

@. 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

¢. 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 boxer’s 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 —

A) 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
(DOLE) 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,