Boxer Gabi posts bail in P4.8-M contract case

Filipino boxer Diosdado "Prince" Gabi, who recently won a fight against a Mexican pugilist in the Boxing World Cup, voluntarily surrendered to police and posted bail on Tuesday, radio station dzBB reported. Gabi has a warrant of arrest issued against him by Judge Antonina Escovilla of the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 2 in connection with breach of contract charges filed by North Cotabato Vice Governor Manny Piñol in 2005. Piñol is asking for P4.8 million in damages from Gabi whom the politician claimed duped him and reneged from their contract. The radio report said Gabi was released after turning himself to Bunawan police station and posting the bail. When news of the court order broke out, the boxing community led by World Boxing Organization (WBO) was alarmed by the situation facing Gabi, whose victory over Jose Angel Beranza set the tone for the Philippines' emphatic 5-1 victory over Mexico in the Boxing World Cup last August 11 in Sacramento, California. Gabi and Peñalosa arrived in the Philippines Thursday last week and were accorded a warm welcome at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport by Filipino fight fans and officials. The day before that, the four other members of the RP team – Rey "Boom Boom" Bautista, Z Gorres, AJ Banal, and Michael Domingo – planed in also to a hero’s welcome. When Gorres went home to his hometown, the government of Mandaue City, led by Mayor Jonas Cortes, let out a red carpet welcome to its conquering hero highlighted by a ticker-tape parade. It's a completely different story for Gabi, whose wife Joy is six months pregnant with their second child. Peñalosa, in a news item at the Philboxing.com website, said he was concerned on the possible arrest facing Gabi, his close friend who once fought in a world title clash but lost to then International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion Vic Darchinyan via an eighth-round technical knockout. - GMANews.TV