Walkout in Bacolod despite RP championship

Boxing has always been the favorite sports of Negrenses, especially in Bacolod. That was the reason why boxing fans threw paper cups and papers at the end of the boxing match at the University of St. La Salle gymnasium Saturday despite persistent reports that the Philippines had won the overall championship in the Southeast Asian Games.

Rep. Monico Puentevella, chair of the Bacolod South East Asian Games Coordinating Council (BASIC), Sunday lodged a formal protest with International Amateur Boxing Association president Anward Chowdry of Pakistan.

"We were robbed right in front of our eyes and in our very own backyard," said Puentevella. "Our boxers suffered defeat, not in the hands of their opponents but as a result of doubtful judging."

Puentevella pointed out that his demand for a review of the bouts involved the "doubtful judging" on the three fights pitting Thai boxers against Romeo Brin, Joegen Ladon, and Reynaldo Galido.

He called for a review of the scoring and expressed dismay and disappointment over the manner with which the three bouts were scored.

If there is anything that has captured the hearts of Negrenses, it is boxing. The province has turned out the most number of amateur champions as well as world class champions like Little Dado, Ceferino Garcia Jr. and a host of other name fighters who became legends in the world of boxing.

Thus, most Negrenses, especially those from Bago City and Bacolod, have become familiar with boxing. They know the nuances of the game. And many are aspiring to become world class boxers.

Thus for them, not even the sure prospect of the SEAG championship could alleviate their disappointment over the "raw deal" their favorite boxers got.

In the case of Ladon, he scored a knockdown against featherweight Waropoj Penthkhum in the third round but lost the bout with a score of only 22.33.

But it was what happened to Galido’s fight against Suriya Prasthinphimai that prompted the coin and paper cup-throwing incident. It seems that Galido failed to land a single score in the open scoreboards despite the obvious fact that Galido had landed hits on his Thai opponent. But those were either not recorded or credited to the other boxer.

There was also another sidelight. Broadcaster Nick Marino and a Thai journalist engaged in a word war that almost escalated into a fistfight were it not for policemen and fellow journalists who stepped in to cool the two men.

AIBA technical delegate Shaakill Durrani of Pakistan claimed there were no discrepancies in the scoring of the fights. He also defended the technical official for having changed one of the scoring gadgets in the third round of the Brin-Sayot bout.

The malfunction, he said, did not affect the outcome of the bout.

Angry Negrenses walked out of the coliseum even while the results were still being announced. Most left disgusted.

Presidential brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio Arroyo, who accompanied First Gentleman Mike Arroyo to the games, said it was very clear that the Thai boxer was getting points for punches he did not throw at Galido. However, he also cleared the Thai boxer.

"The judges were the ones responsible," said Arroyo.

What made it worse, according to Arroyo, was that Galido had already retired from boxing and was called back to fight for the country.

Even Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia pointed out that "people were very agitated by the apparent irregularity."

He pointed out that something was very wrong since every time Galido threw a punch at his opponent the score would go to the other boxer.

Four Olympic gold medalists came from Bacolod, "so we have a highly educated and knowledgeable boxing crowd who had all the reasons to get angry with the perceived anomaly," he said.

Even Gov. Joseph Marañon, who was at the ringside, said it was obvious that points were unfairly given to the Thai boxer at the expense of Galido.

Bago City Mayor Janet Torres felt frustrated and disappointed at what happened to the Bago pugilist. Galido is from Barangay Busay of Bago, the nesting ground of most of the country’s amateur pugilists like Onyok Velasco.

Tempers, however, had cooled down yesterday and there was rejoicing for the RP championship. And now comes the accounting of the impact of the SEA Games on Bacolod’s and the province‘s economy.

Bonanza

December usually means added income for hotels and inns in Bacolod. But the SEA Games filled Bacolod’s hotels and inns as well as pension houses.

Foreign delegates paid for their accommodations in dollars and had their money exchanged to peso by banks or local money-lenders. The mere fact that two delegations sought extension of their stay in the city so they could see more of Bacolod indicate that they must have fallen in love with Negrense hospitality.

Eric Loretizo, Basco secretary-general, said the two delegations pointed out that they need to see more of Bacolod and go shopping as well.

Loretizo, however, said the impact of the SEA Games may be felt in the coming years. He is expecting that more visitors from the participating countries in the SEA Games may visit the country again in the future, especially Bacolod.

Imogene Kana-an, Bacolod tourism officer, said foreign athletes and delegates now have a higher awareness of Bacolod and Negros and may make the city one of their future destinations in the Philippines.

"Tourism was very much alive in the SEA Games, Kana-an said, and stressed that the city has found a place in the tourism map of the region.

Jennylind Cordero, provincial tourism officer, also said the SEA Games has stamped Negros Occidental as a sports tourism destination and has proven that Negros Occidental can host major sports events, whether national or international.

Based on inquiries at the Provincial Tourism Office, even domestic tourists from nearby provinces have asked questions about the tourist spots and interesting places to visit in Negros Occidental.

"In terms of promotion, there is a multiplier effect. We also gave out promotional materials to visitors," she added. These will mostly be handed out by visitors to friends and relatives and could provoke interest in Negros Occidental and Bacolod.

Suspects in broadcaster’s slay

Shortly after the conviction of former Zamboanga policeman Guillermo Wapille for the slaying of Pagadian City journalist Edgar Demalerio, another broadcast journalists in Cebu was gunned down by three unidentified suspects in Talisay City, 12 kilometers south of Cebu City.

The Cebu Regional Trial Court sentenced Wapille to 30 years in prison for the slaying of the editor and columnist of the weekly Zamboanga Scribe. Also a commentator of radio dyKP of Pagadian City, Demalerio was killed on May 13, 2003, while on his way home from a press conference. But while it was a victory of sorts, the mastermind of the killing remains unidentified.

But there were also casualties before the hearing of the case was transferred to Cebu City. Among those killed was Edgar Amoro, who testified that he was with Demalerio when two men on board a motorcycle pulled up beside their car and gunned down the columnist.

Amoro was killed before he could appear in court. Leonido Buhisan, the policeman who first responded to the crime, and Rudy Garcia, who had witnessed the actual shooting, were killed before they could testify in court.

Meanwhile, the suspects in the killing of radio reporter George Benajonan, have been identified and may be charged before the Talisay City Prosecutor’s office.

The gunman was reportedly identified by Adrian "Jimmy" Llanos through a photoraph and was allegedly a small time killer.

Well, as they say, there are still a string of killings of journalists in the country that the police must solve. And until the police can come up with a more credible prosecution than just one in several cases, the country’s mediamen remain on the list of the most endangered species.