Manila: The Senate wants the Philippine ambassador to Argentina recalled following an incident on Saturday in which a Filipino boxing contingent was roughed up by Argentinian boxing fans.
In a resolution, the Senate wants the Department of Foreign Affairs to order the return to the Philippines of Ambassador to Argentina Rey Carandang to explain to the members of the Upper Chamber the circumstances involving an incident where Argentine boxing fans violently attacked Filipino boxer Johnreil Casimero and his contingent on Saturday in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
A video of the incident had been uploaded ion internet sharing sites. The clips showed enraged Argentine fans throwing punches and objects such as bottled water and chairs at Casimero and his trainer Christopher Tepora and boxing manager and promoter, Samson Gello-Ani after the judge ruled in favour of the Filipino.
The Filipino boxer fought Luis Alberto Lazarte of Buenos Aires and defeated the Argentine fighter in a 10 round technical knockout. But immediately after the decision of the judges was rendered, a riot broke out inside the boxing ring.
‘No one to punish'
Senator Vicente Sotto III in a senate privilege speech he gave yesterday, said he was also bothered by news reports quoting Osvaldo Bisbal, president of Argentine Boxing Commission as saying that "there is no one to punish for the ugly post fight riot".
In an article published on the Argentine daily El Clarin Bisbal reportedly reacted arrogantly on the possibility that the International Boxing Federation will sanction Lazarte for the attitude of his fans.
"…we laugh at the sanctions of the international sanctioning bodies, they have no type of authority to do so," Bisbal reportedly said.
"I was told that the Philippine Games and Amusements Board has already sent a letter to Bisbal showing concern over the incident and asking for an investigation," Senator Sotto said.
"On my opinion, this action is not strong enough. Our response should be commensurate to the gravity of the ill-treatment that the Filipino delegation had experienced," he added.
"Will we settle for this kind of bullying to Filipinos? We must condemn in the strongest possible terms this attack on a Filipino sports hero and the entire Philippine delegation.
"Filipino boxers endure long hours of tedious physical training and they risk their lives in every fight. They are not just competing for themselves; they are competing for the country's honour and pride. An insult to the Filipino contingent is an insult to our country," Sotto said.
