GAB WAGI VS LEGALITY NG FILBASKET

HINDI legal at walang katuturan ang torneong isinagawa ng itinatag na liga ng dating pro player na si Jai Reyes.

Ito’y matapos katigan ng Office of the President (OP) ang inihain na cease and desist order ng Games and Amusements Board (GAB) laban sa paglulunsad ng Filipino Basketball League (FilBasket) noong Nobyembre ng nakalipas na taon.

Sa inilabas na resolution ng OP na may petsang Enero 13, 2022 at may lagda ni Deputy Executive Secretary for Legal Affairs Ryan Alvin R. Acosta, iginiit ng OP na ‘Deemed Withdrawn’ ang inihaing ‘Withdrawal of Notice of Appeal’ na may petsang Disyembre 6, 2021 ng organizer ng FilBasket na Metrocity Filbasket, Inc.

Naunang naghain ang organizer ng FilBasket ng ‘Notice of Appeal’ sa OP na may petsang Nobyembre 21, 2022 laban sa inilabas na cease and desist order ng GAB na may petsang Nobyembre 12, 2021 bilang paraan para mapatigil ang isinasagawang torneo ng FilBasket.

Nagawang ipagpatuloy ng FilBasket ang torneo bunsod ng paghahain ng apela na kagyat din nilang binawi ilang araw matapos ang isinagawang championship match.

Ngunit sa resolution ng OP, idineklarang naaayon sa batas sa ilalim ng PD 871 na nagbibigay kapangyarihan sa GAB na magbigay ng sanction sa lahat ng professional sports, ang cease and desist order na inihain ng ahensiya.

“Wherefore, in view of the foregoing, the inaugural tournament of FilBasket being held at Subic Bay Gymnasium in Zambales, is hereby declared ‘UNLAWFUL’ for violation of Section 3 and 4 of PD 871,” nakasaad sa nasabing resolution ng OP.

“Accordingly, pursuant to Section 2(i) of PD 871 authorizing the Board to order the suspension of any game in case of violation or non-compliance with the provisions of the said decree or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, respondent  Filipino Basketball League is hereby ordered to cease and desist from continuing its inaugural tournament at the Subic Bay Gymnasium in Zambales and from conducting any other similar tournaments or games without the appropriate permits and licenses from the Games and Amusements Board (GAB),” ayon pa sa resolution.

Ikinalugod ni GAB Chairman Abraham ‘Baham’ Mitra ang naging desisyon ng OP na aniya’y nagpapatunay na ang ginagawang hakbang at pagkilos ng ahensiya ay nakabatay sa mga kapangyarihang ipinagkaloob ng batas.

“Even if FilBasket withdrew its appeal any similar violation of PD871, by FilBasketball or other pro-leagues, will be dealt with in accordance with the law. FB’s previous defiance was ill-advised as the rules on this matter are already well-established.  GAB’s advice to organizers is to comply with the law and GAB will always be there to assist in any way it can within the bounds of its mandate,” pahayag ni Mitra.

“The Office of the President has declared their appeal as deemed withdrawn. So the case is closed there. But yes, we will continue monitoring them and others similarly situated to prevent violation of the law governing professional sports in the Philippines,” sambit pa ng dating Palawan governor at congressman.

Bago pa man nagsimula ang FilBasket noong Oktubre 28, 2021, iginiit ng GAB na kinakailangan nilang tumalima sa regulasyon at safety and health protocol batay sa Joint Administrative Order (JAO) na nagkakaisang nilagdaan ng GAB, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) at Department of Health (DOH). Ang naturang JAO ay aprubado ng Inter-Agency Task Force.

“Under the GAB-PSC Guidelines on the Definitions of Professional Athlete and Professional Sports or Competitions, professional sports or competitions refer to individual or team sports, games, contests, bouts, tournaments or competitions where the participating athletes are paid or given other forms of compensation as salary or prize for participation,” sambit ni Mitra.

Iginiit ng Filbasket na amateur ang liga na tulad ng UAAP at NCAA, subalit wala rin permiso ang PSC sa kanilang organisasyon, at sa kabila ng pagpayag ng SBMA at ng regional office ng IATF, irregular ang liga batay sa IATG ruling kung kaya’t pinigilan ito ng GAB. EDWIN ROLLON