Pool community up in arms to oppose GAB's action

The pool community are now in uproar and opposing the move of the Games and Amusement Board, which mandated all local and international pool players to secure license from the said government agency. A manifesto was prepared by the officers of the Billiards and Snooker Congress of the Philippines, the governing body of pool in the country, rejecting the move of the GAB to enforce all foreign and local players, referees and billiard utility staff to secure a license before being allowed to see action in the Philippine Open Pool Championships and the World Ten Ball Championships. Both major pool events are sanctioned by the World Pool-Billiard Association and hosted by the Philippines. The manifesto, which was signed by the officers of the BSCP, majority of the leading Filipino pool players, referees and billiard workers, was prepared to strongly protest the GAB’s implementation of the Presidential Decree 871, which to them is a long overdue law which “require players, referees, scorer, time keeper or other persons performing duties connected with the professional basketball games or other professional games to get a license from the Board." Earlier, the BSCP, the governing body of pool in the Philippines, and the world’s governing body in billiards, the World Pool-Billiard Association, made a collective stand opposing the move of the GAB. "This is irregular and unprecedented in the world," said Ian Andreson, president of the WPA. “The requirement is totally alien to our experience in the WPA," said Anderson. “The WPA and its member federations organize scores of tournaments around the world every year, and we know of no country that requires players, especially foreign players, to secure a local license to play pool." Anderson also clarified that the WPA goes by the Olympic spirit. He even gave the 1992 United States Dream Team bannered by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, all professional players playing in the National Basketball Association, as a classic example. “Its action is arbitrary, contrary to law and injurious to our national reputation in international sports. The Philippine Open is taking place with 31 countries and 200 players participating, and in the presence of no less than the president of the WPA, Ian Anderson," the BSCP said in its statement. Former Department of Foreign Affairs secretary Alberto Romulo, who described the scheme as "Insane." “It penalizes visitors who spend money to visit, stay and play in the Philippines. The Philippines is known as the pool capital of the world and has hosted several world championships – the 9-Ball Championship from 2006 to 2007 and the Ten Ball Championships as early as 2008. Jack Romasanta, president of the Puerto Princesa Billiards Club, said, "The GAB licensing order is ridiculous. Only in the Philippines such thing is happening." Dragon Promotions, which promoted the Women’s World 10-Ball event in the country, said they themselves were not spared by GAB. A source who is privy to the matter said the government agency has asked P3,000 each for the licensing fee of the players. "That’s absolutely stupid," said Dragon Promotions, in a statement given to the BSCP. - RCJ, GMA News