Filipino boxers live in garage; used as houseboys

It was reported by Yuko Narushima in Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) that four Filipino boxers “live in slave-like conditions in a garage.”

The immigration department, together with the NSW Combat Sports Authority is now conducting an investigation against the family that brought the boxers from Cebu, an island south of Manila in the Philippines.

The men, who cannot be identified, alleged that Dido Bohol “confiscated” their passports for ‘safekeeping’ as soon as they arrived in Sydney. It was further alleged that they were forced into domestic servitude, cleaning toilets, washing dishes, mowing the lawn and looking after the children of the Bohol family.

In earlier reports published in the April 2008 issue of Philippine Tribune, Mr. Bohol, the boxing recruiter denied similar allegations made by another boxer. He said that the boxers live comfortably and partake of the same food eaten by the family. Though the boxers live in bunk beds inside the garage, they are even provided with a television for entertainment.

“The boxers in my care are like family to me, my wife and children. They eat the same food we eat, go to church with us on Sundays. . . and come to social gatherings with my family and friends” — Mr. Bohol said.

But the boxers who made the complaint had a different story. They alleged that “they ate the same rice meals day after day without a heater through winter, and were not paid proper entitlements from title bouts.”

The boxers also alleged that they were threatened with deportation and, in one case, death if they complained or defected to another manager.

In the same report published in Sydney Morning Herald, one boxer said that he was brought to Australia about two years ago. The super bantam-weight claimed that his manager-recruiter lied to him about his prize money. He was given only $400 out of the $3,000 that he won in a recent fight.

It seems that Bohol wanted to recover expenses incurred in bringing boxers to Australia, plus other utility bills in maintaining the boxing stable.

The SMH report also mentioned that sports visas allow boxers to compete in Australia for up to two years. The report also stated that under the sports visa, the boxers are entitled to bring their family members to Australia. Such entitlement has not been verified. – ?