JUSTICE, not money, is what North Cotabato Vice Gov. Manny Pi?ol wants against his former ward Diosdado Gabi.
This was Pinol’s reaction after reports came out that a Davao City court issued a warrant of arrest for Gabi pertaining to a case filed by the Mindanao sportsman-politician against the troubled fighter.
“Nagtataka ako kung bakit nire-revive ng grupo ni Gabi itong kaso. I have even forgotten it already,” said an incensed Pi?ol in an interview with BusinessMirror. “I filed it in 2005 when he fled along with Michael Koncz to the US.”
Pi?ol said he wants justice because this is not the first time that Gabi abandoned his benefactor.
“We filed a case against Gabi not because we want to get him back. No. Marami kaming boksingerong mas magaling kay Gabi. Number two, I’m not after Gabi’s money because he has no money.”
According to Pi?ol, Gabi also deserted former manager Roger Sumampong whom the boxer accused of pocketing his boxing earnings.
“Sinabi ni Gabi na hindi binibigay ni Roger ’yung premyo niya. Naniwala naman kami kaya kinuha namin siya and binayaran si Roger ng P150,000 para i-surrender ‘yung managerial rights,” disclosed Pi?ol.
Pinol said the warrant of arrest was actually issued in 2005. The arrest warrant was issued by Judge Antonina Escovilla of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 2.
“I dare anybody na kausapin ninyo kahit na sinong pulis sa Davao, walang makapagsasabi na nilapitan ko sila para ipaaresto si Gabi.,” added Pi?ol. “Because I’m not interested in sending Gabi to prison.”
Pi?ol, a three-term governor who also had a distinguished career as a boxing broadcaster and columnist, chastised Gabi for making it appear that he was mistreated during their short-lived promotional and managerial partnership which started in 2002.
“Ni minsan hindi ako kumuha ni singko sa premyo ng mga boksingero namin. From the very start hindi namin kinuhanan ng pera ang mga boksingero namin because we love boxing,” said Pi?ol. “I have squandered a fortune in my 20 years sa boxing. Si Gabi lang ang nagreklamo na hindi namin ibinibigay ang premyo.”
Pi?ol said that boxing is his passion and that nurturing potential world beaters of the sport is his way of giving the country more honors through boxing.
Pi?ol filed a case against Gabi for violating their managerial contract. In the case Pinol sought P4.8 million from Gabi, an amount which was said to be what the sportsman invested in the boxer.
Pi?ol said a number of concerned personalities have asked him to forgive Gabi.
“Papaano ko papatawarin ’yan eh hindi naman siya marunong humingi ng tawad. When we met sa Las Vegas he greeted me good morning, binati ko din ng good morning. Siguro kung nagsabi siya ng sorry, eh di OK,” revealed Pi?ol.
Pi?ol promoted Gabi’s fights until the boxer won the World Boxing Council (WBC) International flyweight crown in a major card promoted by Pi?ol in Cotabato City.
Based on the records of the case, Pinol claimed that Gabi received P150,000 in cash advance in May 2005 for his bout against WBC No. 5 flyweight contender Rosendo Alvarez of Nicaragua.
After receiving the amount, Pinol said that Gabi never showed up again in his gym. Pinol was able to talk to Gabi’s father who claimed that the boxer has decided to retire from boxing and tend to their farm.
They later learned that Gabi left for the United States with Koncz, a Canadian agent who once gained the trust of Pinol in helping their boxers to campaign in the US.
Meanwhile, Pinol hopes to be of help among Filipino boxing fans in terms of getting adequate information with their favorite boxers as he has now created a new boxing website.
The website’s address is www.thepinoyboxers.com where Pinol will be joined by close friends and fellow columnists Recah Trinidad, Al Mendoza and Hermie Rivera and a slew of upcoming writers.
