IF Ernest John Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association are unable to resolve their conflict, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman “Butch” Ramirez warned yesterday the PSC could withdraw its funding of the country’s international meets in 2022.
Ramirez bared in the inaugural Philippine Sportswriters Association forum this year that Congress had approved P515 million for the country’s participation in overseas competitions, including the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in May and Hangzhou Asian Games in September.
“We would like to thank Congress, the senators in particular, in approving our allotment of P515 million for our international competitions this year,” he said in the public sports program backed by the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corp., San Miguel Corp. Amelie Hotel, Braska Restaurant and Milo.
However, he added he would not mind returning the money to the Department of Budget and Management if Obiena and the Patafa, as well as the Philippine Olympic Committee, declined the PSC’s mediation efforts.
“We’re spending billions on our athletes and yet we are still in a pandemic and millions of Filipinos are without food and shelter because of typhoon Odette. I will tell Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea to give the money to those in need and concentrate on grassroots sport that we have overlooked,” Ramirez said.
“Without humility from all sides — EJ, the Patafa and the POC, respect and forgiveness, it is impossible to resolve this dispute,” the PSC chief reminded all the parties involved.
“Mediation is the only option.”
He said that Obiena and the Patafa, through its chairman, Deputy House Speaker Rufus Rodriguez, had agreed in principle to go to the bargaining table with the help of the Philippine Dispute and Resolution Center, Inc. led by its President Atty. Edmundo Tan and Executive Director Atty. Arleo Magtibay Jr.
Ramirez added he had a talk with POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino last Monday, and the latter also agreed to a “ceasefire” until the PSC mediation could reach a satisfactory resolution to the dispute.
The POC Executive Board last Dec. 28 declared Patafa President Philip Ella Juico “persona non grata” for his alleged harassment of Obiena, who was called to account to the discrepancies in his liquidation reports, particularly on the fees paid to his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov.
“Should all parties agree, I, PSC executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. and the PDRCI hope to resolve this dispute,” Ramirez said.
“Just as what we did in the (2018) Asian Games, (2019) Southeast Asian Games and (2021) Olympic Games, we let us all start and find a peaceful resolution to this issue together since I cannot do this alone,” he reiterated.
