The scheduled press conference that was supposed to have taken place on Thursday, July 18 was indefinitely postponed, according to Filpress organizer Jaime Pimentel.
He announced that Dido Bohol, the controversial boxing promoter who — for more than 10 years — has been importing boxers from the Philippines was advised by his solicitor not to entertain any request from media for an interview. Bohol is currently under investigation by the Australian Federal Police.
Earlier last month, this writer was contacted by ABC TV News Reporter Caro Meldrum-Hanna for the contact details of Michelle Canoy. Ms. Canoy is the widow of the late Roberto Ruiz, a Filipino boxer who committed suicide, apparently in desperation for his failed bid to remain in Australia as a permanent resident. Having established contact with the Canoy family led to a damning report about the activities of Dido Bohol that went viral.
Not long after the television coverage of ABC News, the Filipino Channel ABS-CBN followed with a similar story which was aired on global television.
The report on Australian television alleged that Dido Bohol is guilty of trafficking Filipino boxers who end up as ‘slaves’ doing domestic chores in the Bohol household. It appears that the ABC report was based on an interview with some disgruntled boxers who have left the Bohol Boxing Stable and were later proselytized by other promoters on false promises of permanent residency.
Mr. Bohol makes frequent trips to the Philippines to recruit boxers. They are brought to Sydney on the strength of a sports visa that is usually good for only 6 months but is renewable for an unspecified period. The boxers are then allowed to stay in bunk beds inside Bohol’s garage while waiting for a boxing bout. Return airfares are paid by Dido Bohol.
Opinion of this writer
The ‘slavery’ allegation appears to have stemmed from a claim by the boxers that they were being made to do household chores without being paid. Such work involves cutting grass and some cleaning inside the house.
But we are here in Australia where only the filthy rich can afford to hire domestic helpers. Everybody does his share of housework — washing the dishes, cleaning, mowing the lawn, doing the laundry, etc. Back in the Philippines, my family had domestic helpers that included a gardener, a driver, a cook, and a nanny for my children. Their salaries were affordable.
When we hire a neighbourhood centre for parties, doesn’t everybody — including some guests — participate in the cleaning?
Frankly, I don’t see anything wrong about these boxers being asked to help in cleaning the house. They live in Australia and are expected to help as Australians just like everybody else. Did these boxers really expect to be treated like royalty? If so, they don’t deserve to remain here.