WEIGHTLIFTING chief and former Philippine Olympic Committee chairman Monico Puentevella will move for the POC general assembly to set aside the POC Executive Board’s decision to declare athletics chief Philip Juico persona non grata during its first meeting of the year on January 12.
“I intend to propose a motion on the General Assembly floor for the Philippine Olympic Committee to set aside the ratification of the Excom board to declare Patafa’s Philip Juico persona non grata,” Puentevella said.
He added that included in his motion was “an addendum and condition that Patafa will also reinstate EJ Obiena to the national team.”
“I’m quite optimistic that once this is approved, mediation will and should be conducted by the Philippine Sports Commission for a period of one month for the adversaries to resolve a beneficial and mutual agreement and to avoid issuing further (public) statements until this is all over,” Puentevella said.
“I beg our (POC) colleagues’ approval on Wednesday (Jan. 12). Let’s put a stop to this circus. Let’s all start the year right,” he stressed. “It’s time for sacrifice and set aside our egos to help save Philippine sports from mediocrity.
“From a molehill, we have created a monster. Enough to create dividing unnecessary rifts between athletes and officials. Sports loving people are laughing at us. So, let’s all unite and let reason prevail.”
In a TV interview Wednesday night, former POC president Cristy Ramos also pointed out the issue was an internal matter between Patafa and Obiena.
“It’s really between EJ Obiena, the Patafa/Dr. Popoy Juico so I think they should really be allowed to resolve the issue within the Patafa,” Ramos, also a former national women’s football team member, said.
