IPINAALALA ng Games and Amusements Board (GAB) ang pagbabawal muna sa lahat professional leagues, kabilang ang promoters, atleta at managers, ng patanggap ng anumang sponsorship mula sa mga kandidato sa darating na halalan sa Mayo.

Sinabi ni GAB Chairman Abraham “Baham” Mitra na ang pagbabawal ay alinsunod na din sa direktiba na ipinatutupad ng Commission on Electios (COMELEC).

Ang pagbabawal ay nagsinula na nung Pebrero 8.

“While we understand that sponsorship is important in staging sports events, particularly during this time of pandemic, we still need to follow the law and the orders of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC),” sabi ni Mitra sa kanyang statement na inilabas kamakailan.

Ang naturang direktiba ay pagtugon ni Mitra sa naging kasagutan ng COMELEC sa kanilang inihaing paglilinaw hingil sa naturang isyu.

“Pursuant to Commission on Election (Comelec) Resolution No. 10695 promulgated on February 10, 2021, which resolved to prohibit giving donations or gifts in cash or in-kind during the campaign period, and in light of the COMELEC’s response to the Games and Amusements Board (GAB) letter dated January 14, 2022, inquiring whether a sponsorship from a candidate and/or party-list groups to a professional team or league is considered a donation, contributions, or gift in cash or in-kind under the Section 104 of the Omnibus Election Code,” sabi pa sa memo.

“We want to help our professional leagues and promoters to bounce back, get good publicity, and secure large audience turnout, however, we want to remind them to avoid politicking in sports,”paluwanag pa ng dating Palawan Governor at Congressman.

“Malinaw po ang regulasyon sa batas ng COMELEC. Kung magpapatuloy sila at babalewalain ang ating memo, lalabag sila at mananagot sila sa pamahalaan.”

Isa sa mga maapektuhan ng naturang pagbabawal ang Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) ni Sen. Manny Pacquiao, na ngayon ay tumatakbong bilang pangulo ng bansa.