Mitra vows more active GAB

MANILA, Philippines - Newly designated GAB chairman Abraham Mitra said the other day he expects the government agency supervising professional sports in the country to be more active in looking after the welfare of athletes and protecting public interest under his watch.

Mitra, 46, was a three-term Congressman and Governor of Palawan before his recent appointment by President Duterte. GAB is under the Office of the Chief Executive and has the authority to license professional athletes and issue permits for the staging of professional competitions. It implements rules and regulations governing the conduct of professional sports and has the power to enforce anti-illegal gambling operations. GAB also has a quasi-judicial function in undertaking investigations towards hearing and deciding cases where there may be violations of rules related to sports.

The main focus of GAB is to oversee the operations of the PBA, professional boxing and horseracing. It also supervises other professional sports such as billiards, jai-alai, golf and mixed martial arts. Mitra said he will look into the professional nature of existing volleyball leagues and the United Football League as mandated by law.

In professional boxing, Mitra said GAB is entitled by law to receive one percent of purses for the Boxers Welfare Fund. Over the last five years, GAB has collected P2 Million from this provision and disbursed P1.2 Million to benefit fighters who require medical assistance. From the PBA, GAB takes in three percent of gross ticket sales and also shares in TV revenues. According to Mitra, GAB generates revenues of about P11 Million a year and has an annual budget of P80 Million from the General Appropriations Act.

Mitra said one of his first acts as GAB chairman was to order an audit of the PBA’s income streams where GAB receives a share. “It’s not that we don’t trust the PBA,” he said. “We just want to make sure everything is in order. As GAB chairman, my job is to protect public interest. I have no agenda except to serve our President, our government, our people and everyone involved in professional sports. In any way we can assist those in professional sports, we will. It is government’s interest for professional sports to be successful.”

Mitra said at the end of his term, he will submit a report of accomplishment to the President. “I want to put on record what’s on the table from Day One and what will be on the table when I finish my term,” he said. “It’s about accountability and transparency. The President is serious in making change happen.”

Mitra said GAB won’t be a burden to professional athletes. “I’m told at the start of the year, there are long lines of athletes waiting to renew their licenses,” he said. “I intend to make the renewal of licenses on birthdays and perhaps with a two or three-year duration. There is a law that authorizes the Philippine Sportswriters Association to undertake a boxing promotion called ‘Fiesta Fistiana’ for the Boxers Welfare Fund every year. But I understand that hasn’t happened in the last six years. I hope to revive this, maybe call it something else, if allowed by law, because it’s for the boxers’ benefit.”

Mitra said he’s concerned that the prize winnings in horseracing have gone down and are even lower than what they were in the mid-1990s. “So far, I’ve met with Dr. (Norberto) Quisumbing who operates one of three horseracing franchises in Malvar, Batangas,” he said. “I still have to meet with the other franchise holders Mr. (Simeon) Cua of Naic, Cavite and Mr. (Alfonso) Reyno of Carmona, Cavite. I’d like to bring back the popularity of horseracing, get the A and B classes more involved because they’ve got the money to bet. You don’t see men in suits and ladies in gowns attend big horse races anymore.”

In the PBA, Mitra said he hopes to discuss with commissioner Chito Narvasa how GAB may be of assistance. Mitra attended a recent PBA game in Panabo Davao del Norte and said he hopes gate attendance and TV ratings improve. “Over the last six years, the only way GAB has been actively involved in the PBA was when we heard six appeals and the PBA decisions were all upheld,” he said. “I think the PBA is a wonderful sports entertainment vehicle for the people and a good source of livelihood. I notice a lot of sound innovations like the rotating referee system which is a first in basketball anywhere in the world. I’m told the Governors Cup ticket sales are usually higher than the Philippine Cup. As an outsider looking in with a fresh approach, maybe there is something I can contribute towards making the PBA more successful.”

Mitra met with boxing promoters and managers last Friday in the first of a series of consultations on how GAB could be more attentive to their needs. He also intends to meet with boxing promoters and managers in the Visayas and Mindanao. “I’ll be attending even small boxing cards in the provinces,” he said. “I want to make sure boxers are protected. I’ll look into allegations of boxers being sent overseas without GAB clearance to fight under different names. I won’t stand for boxers to be exploited. At the same time, I want to make sure boxing promoters and managers are able to earn under the law. I’ll review the assignment of judges for fights and track who are the Filipino fighters abroad. It will mean closer coordination between GAB and boxing commissions from other countries.”