GAB, BI requirement could cancel pool tiff

MANILA, Philippines - A law being invoked by the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and Bureau of Immigration (BI) which compelled local and foreign players to secure working  permits and licenses has threathened the cancellation of the  five-day 2011 World 10-Ball Championship set to start Tuesday  at the World Trade Center, organizers said yesterday.

Yen Macabenta, spokesman of the tournament, told reporters during the Saturday news forum at Annabel’s restaurant in Quezon city that GAB and BI had directed the 128 players from 44 countries to first secure working permits and the local players were also directed to apply for a license from GAB before they could participate in the tournament.

Invoking PD 1986 which was issued by the late president Ferdinand Marcos when he declared martial law in 1972, GAB warned that it would issue a cease and desist order if the organizers and players would not comply with the directive.

“We were shocked. For the first in the history of billiards we are compelled to secure permits and licenses from the government,” he said. “This is a violation of our right to practice our game of choice.”

He said they had already filed an appeal with President Aquino because participants of the game coming from all over the world are already in the country and at least 5,000 tourists are also expected to watch the event.

Macabenta said local and foreign players had already signed a manifesto that if GAB and BI would insist on their directive they would boycott the tournament.

He said billiards, an Asian Games event, is a sports of choice and subject to regulations by the government.

He said local players will have to pay an estimated P 3,000 for a permit on top of fees imposed by the Pasay City government on the game organizers.

Legal experts Allan Paguia, who was also present during the forum, said Presidential decree was already repealed when the Philippine Sports Commission (POSC) was created.

A least 44 countries, represented by 128 of the best pool players in the world, are seeing action in the event. 2011 World Ten Ball Championship of the World Pool-Billiard Association,