Boxer’s girlfriend cries out for justice

The late flyweight Lito Sisnorio’s embittered girlfriend Jonahmae (Lalang) Bacus yesterday called for a stop to the prostitution of Filipinos abroad and lashed out at the boxing brokers who arranged the mismatch that led to the 24-year-old fighter’s death in Thailand last Saturday.

North Cotabato Gov. Manny Piñol, who is in Bangkok to claim Sisnorio’s body, described the exploitation of Filipino fighters as despicable and condemned it as an act of human trafficking.

Bacus, 20, said since Sisnorio and two others left for Bangkok last Jan. 14, she was in contact with the fighter nearly every day. He texted in the morning and phoned long distance at night.

In between sobs, Bacus said Sisnorio was lonely and couldn’t wait to come home. They met in Kidapawan two years ago and were neighbors.

"He told me he missed me," she told The Star on the phone from Kidapawan in Pilipino. "When he was brought to Thailand, they made him fight after two weeks. Then, they took him to Korea for another fight which he lost. Finally came his third fight. He never told me about how much he earned. But in Korea, he complained that things were expensive and he had to scrimp."

Bacus, a third year education student at Central Mindanao Colleges, said those found guilty of illegally transporting Sisnorio overseas for unsanctioned fights should be jailed.

"I want justice for Lito," said Bacus. "I want other Filipino fighters going abroad to be protected. Why can’t the GAB do anything to stop this? Lito was exploited. Somebody should be made to pay for this crime."

Bacus disclosed that Sisnorio and stablemate Michael Rodriguez left manager Jemuel Contayoso’s home in Kidapawan without permission last December to leave for Bangkok after they were offered a series of fights by Thai matchmaker Panya Prachakorn through a certain Rex Paciones who reportedly works for unlicensed boxing agent Bong Obero.

Sisnorio, Rodriguez and another fighter Roel (Kid) Orais went to Bangkok on the same flight. Rodriguez fought in Ratchaburi last Feb. 27 and is now back home in General Santos City while Sisnorio lies in a Bangkok funeral parlor.

Sisnorio, 24, was supposed to return home last Sunday. He never made it. Sisnorio was knocked out by former world flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul last Friday and died of a brain hemorrhage the next morning.

Pinol’s assistant Joemar Campo was in Koronadal the other night to secure a power of attorney from Sisnorio’s parents authorizing the governor to take custody of the remains. Lawyer Russell Abonado prepared the writ. Campo also took a copy of Sisnorio’s birth certificate to show Thai boxing officials who require the family’s clearance to release the corpse.

Pinol, his daughter Josa Bernadette and Campo left for Bangkok yesterday to claim the body and dig into the circumstances that led to the tragedy. Also departing were GAB commissioner Angel Bautista and boxing chief Dr. Nasser Cruz.