A GROUP of Cebuano boxing officials has filed a petition to oust Games and Amusements Board (GAB) Chief of Boxing Chairman Dr. Nasser Cruz from his office because of alleged corruption.
International boxing judge Edward Ligas, along with referees Tony Pesons and Edgar Olalo, and ring physician Dr. Jose Unabia held a press conference Wednesday morning at the Abuhan Tres, Cebu City to announce their complaint against Cruz.
“We want to stop the illegal and immoral abuse of Dr. Cruz. We already asked for his transfer to other division and gave him due process but nothing happened, so we decided to publicize our petition so that action will be taken immediately,” said Ligas.
A five-page petition paper with 11 signatories narrated all of Cruz’s alleged corruption and indecencies in GAB.
Among the allegations mentioned was that Cruz insisted to ask for girls, lechon(roasted pig), dried fish when he travelled to other regions of the country for official functions. Another was that Cruz “allowed incompetent officials from Bacolod to officiate because they were political minions or close friends of former GAB Chairman Ramon Guanzon.”
According to Ligas, they already submitted their petition to newly appointed GAB chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra when they met in the WBO Convention in Puerto Rico last Oct. 18.
Other signatories of the petition are Noel Flores, Edwin Barrientos, Teddy Alivio, Romar Embodo, Arne Najera, Dr. Rene Bonsubre and Noel Flores.
Mitra and other Cebu GAB officials have set a dialogue with local boxing promoters at the GAB Cebu City office on Saturday.
Ligas said he hopes Mitra will act on this issue.
“If there’s no investigation from our GAB Chairman, then it’s time to escalate this matter to Senator Pacquiao and do an inquiry. If there’s no concrete action, then we will proceed to the Ombudsman and to Senator Pacquiao,” he said.
Copies of the petition were already sent to Senator Manny Pacquiao’s office as well as Justice Conchita Carpio Morales, Presidential Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco.
Cebu Daily News was still trying to get Cruz’s side regarding the issue.