THE Professional Boxing Officials of Cebu (PBOC), headed by its president Edward Ligas, filed a complaint against former Games and Amusements Board (GAB) chairman Juan Ramon Guanzon yesterday at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.
Ligas accused Guanzon of grave misconduct, abuse of authority, violations of R.A. 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, RA 6713, and RA 10364 or qualified trafficking.
Ligas alleged that Guanzon abused his power as chairman of the GAB to let a certain Janifer Ortiz pose as a boxer and leave for Australia.
“As chairman of the GAB, he made fake documents that Janifer Ortiz was a boxer. But there are no records of her being a boxer. Chairman Guanzon cheated both the Philippines and the Australian governments,” Ligas said in yesterday’s press conference at the Abuhan Restaurant.
Ligas wrote on his complaint that on Sept. 11, 2013 Ortiz applied for a boxing license from GAB and was approved by Guanzon. Two days later, Ortiz was issued a boxing license.
Ligas said that Guanzon also issued a Letter of Authority submitted to the Commissioner of Australia National Boxing Federation stating that Ortiz was a licensed boxer and was authorized to fight in an event on Oct. 11, 2013 in Malvern, Victoria, Australia. Ligas also alleged that on the same day, Guanzon wrote a letter to the Consul General of Australia asking for a travel visa for Ortiz.
Ligas said GAB was used, through Guanzon, by the Australian fiancee of Ortiz, who is a boxing promoter and boxing TV host, so that they can be reunited in Australia.
Guanzon is currently secretary general of the OPBF and is also a consultant for GAB.
“If he values his credibility, he must resign. He’s a disgrace to the boxing commission,” said Ligas. “It is clear in documentary evidence that Guanzon committed qualified human trafficking. We have a strong case against Guanzon.” (EKA)