Ako Bicol Representatives Alfredo Garbin Jr. and Elizaldy Co were the people who filed House Bill No. 1526 titled An Act Banning Minors from Full-Contact Competitive Sports. This put a stopper for minors in engaging in combat sports like karate, boxing, judo, mixed martial arts, muay, jiu-jitsu, and other martial arts.

The group of NSAs was composed of 13 officials led by the President of Arnis federation in the Philippines, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.

The other officials that signed the position paper were Ed Picson of Boxing, Pearl Managuelod of Muay Thai, Dave Carter of Judo, Princess Jacel Kiram of Pencak silat, Wharton Chan of Kickboxing, Richard Lim of Karate, Ferdinand Agustin of Jiu-jitsu, L. Pietro Paolo Claudio of sambo, Raul Samson of Taekwondo, Alvin Aguilar of Wrestling, Julian Camacho of Wushu, and Fencing’s Richard Gomez. 

The position paper states in writing, “We complement the vigilance and dutifulness of our honorable congressmen. However, the combat sports NSAs strongly oppose prohibiting minors from participating in combat sports competitions, whether full contact or semi-contact,”

As included in the position paper, each NSAs has conducted strict regulations while training such as wearing headgears, vests, shin guards, elbow pads, groin guards, protective gears, and breast protectors.

NSAs also made sure that medical forms and consent forms from parents and guardians are signed and completed before the event.

Philippine combat sports have been bagging medals for the country in the Olympics, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games, and Youth Olympic Games. Thus, uprooting minors will disarm the talent identification of each athlete as well as the grassroots programs of each NSAs.

Not only the group opposed the bill, but the position paper also states recommendation of strict adherence to safety tenets, review the policies of the Palarong Pambansa and make necessary amendments to tournaments as well as to international federation rules.

For the safety of youth athletes from both amateur and professional sports, NSAs also recommended a new bill giving athletes the rights to anti-doping, regular medical check-ups, rest periods in between competitions, gender-based violence, harassment, trafficking, and technical and games rules updates. 

“We urge our honorable lawmakers to consider the preceding information in their deliberations on this bill. We hope that the impact such a bill could make on our respective sports development would be taken to mind before any decisions are made,” NSAs announced.

Also in opposition to the passing of the said bill is the Philippine Olympic Committee president and PhilCycling chief, Abraham Tolentino.