POLE vaulter Ernest John Obiena yesterday publicly agreed to a mediation process with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association under the supervision of the Philippine Sports Commission provided he remained in the national pool.
“I am all in when it comes to that mediation (process with the PSC). I trust the Senate. As you have said senators, that is the best way. But my only take is before you go into mediation there should be a sign of reconciliation,” Obiena said in a joint online hearing of the Senate Sports and Finance Committees.
“My understanding is that putting me back as a national team member is a sign of good faith. I have said my piece and I am more than willing to put this aside and move on in continuing to train and compete for the Philippines,” the Italy-based athlete added in the hearing that lasted over five hours.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go presided over the hearing. Also present were Senate Minority Floor Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Francis Tolentino, Pia Cayetano and Ronald dela Rosa.
Also attending were PSC Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Patafa Chairman Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, POC Secretary General Atty. Ed Gastanes and weightlifting chief and former POC chairman Monico Puentevella.
Tokyo Olympic gold medalist Hidily Diaz also joined the hearing, saying she was there to support her fellow athlete. She also urged Obiena to communicate and thresh out his problems with the Patafa.
Obiena agreed to the mediation process after Ramirez made an impassioned plea for him and Patafa to settle the controversy once and for all.
“I would be very glad if Congressman Rufus, Popoy (Juico) can accommodate para matapos na itong lahat. Kung susundin natin si Senators Bong Go, Tolentino and Pia, tapos na to before 5 o’clock,” a seemingly exasperated Ramirez said.
Ramirez had tried twice for Obiena to come to the negotiation table, only to be spurned by the athlete, citing the alleged “bad faith” of Juico.
Drilon noted the controversy could grow deeper if the matter was not settled soon between the two parties.
“I join the call of the PSC Chairman regarding mediation because there could be grave consequences with the (Vietnam) SEA Games drawing near. What if the Patafa or Mr. Juico does not certify Obiena, which I doubt the way things are now, of the little I know of the international sports rules,” Drilon said.
“I understand that government interference is abhorred by the International Olympic Committee, and with all due respect, this is already a thin line in our case as it is,” he pointed out. “Maybe we can use this hearing para ayusin natin ito. We will get nowhere if we continue in this manner.”
Dela Rosa agreed with Ramirez and Drilon that there should be humility from both sides, declaring in Filipino that the row should not be a “pissing contest” and that both agree to mediation.
Puentevella commended the move of the senators to have both parties agree to the PSC initiative to mediate in the conflict, stressing that “mediation is the only way and that you should learn to live and progress with your NSA or you will find it difficult to perform as an athlete.”
