If a Nueva Ecija congressman would have his way, World Boxing Council champion Manny Pacquiao and his fellow boxers would be hanging their boxing gloves for good.Maverick Rep. Edno Joson wants Congress to ban boxing and other violent sports since they could result in brain damage, other serious physical injury and death, and they send the “wrong message to young people.”
Joson yesterday filed House Bill 3743, which calls for the abolition of boxing, a sport supported by millions of Filipinos.
He said boxing “can result in death and produce an alarming incidence of chronic brain injury, sight and hearing loss.”
“Sometimes, a single punch does the damage. But in other cases, it is the overall effect of hundreds of punches over the many fights fought by the boxer throughout his career,” he said.
He pointed out that the “money and fame a few champion boxers get send a wrong message to young people.”
“Many young boys are lured to boxing because of the thought that entering the ring is a way out of poverty. However, these young boys often do not have enough education and awareness to make a proper decision about the risks of the sport,” he stressed.
Joson said that while boxers, promoters and others involved in boxing events can earn huge sums of money,” no amount of money can compensate for permanent brain damage and premature death.”
“Banning boxing contests and/or exhibitions as a form of public entertainment can put an end to needless deaths, injuries and most of all, put a dent to the culture of violence prevailing in our society.” he said.
Bill 3743 seeks to encourage non-violent sports competitions to foster “self-discipline, teamwork, and excellence for the development of a health and alert citizenry.”
Offenders would face a prison term of six months to six years and a fine of P200 to P6,000, according to the bill.
An offender would be anyone participating or involved in any manner in a boxing match or violent sports competition, including the owner of the place where such event is held.
In case the boxer dies, the offenders would suffer the next higher penalty. If the offender were a partnership or corporation, the managing partner, president or other responsible officers would be held liable.
Joson is an independent and does not count himself with the majority or minority bloc in the House of Representatives.
He is the author of several proposals that many of his colleagues consider out of the ordinary.
No comments:
Post a Comment