Clean Living
Cojuangco’s dilemma
By Manolo Iñigo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:35:00 06/08/2009
Filed Under: Sports Organisations
THE EMBATTLED Philippine Olympic Committee, then known as the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation, wasn’t set up to have one group at the throat of another. It wasn’t meant to create chaos and sow confusion in sports, like what is happening today.
“The concern of the POC is the harmony of the National Sports Associations and not to undermine its members,” said one disgruntled sports official. “Being under the International Olympic Committee, administrative matters are the only concern of the Philippine Olympic Committee.”
The NSAs are autonomous, their inherent right. These NSAs cannot waive or allow this right to be trampled upon. They shall resist government, religious and economic pressure.
Even Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is concerned. Recently, he urged the POC to immediately resolve the leadership problems in at least seven NSAs whose athletes are preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December.
The youthful senator from Bicol warned that the Philippine campaign in the SEA Games is headed for failure unless the leaders in equestrian, cycling, swimming, archery, wushu, wrestling and billiards settle their differences.
“Our sports leaders, starting with the POC leadership, should show statesmanship at this crucial time,” Escudero said.
Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping has also joined the fray, calling the present POC leadership problem “anomalous.”
Citing in particular the equestrian case, Angping was quoted as saying: “With the recent confirmation of party-list Rep. Carisa Coscolluela as new president of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines by the sport’s ruling body—the Federation Equestre Internatonale (international equestrian federation)—the POC now finds itself in an anomalous situation where both the president and the secretary general do not officially represent an NSA.”
(The POC head, former Tarlac congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, was elected equestrian president last November while close ally Steve Hontiveros, formerly the national bowling association president, was named POC secretary general.)
Retorted Cojuangco: “The obvious bias of the PSC chair appeared to be tainted with malice and is a clear case of government intervention.”
This in-fighting is not doing sports any good. This bickering is demoralizing the athletes and hampering their training and causing the loss and trust of the few remaining sponsors in the NSAs as well.
Cojuangco’s dilemma
By Manolo Iñigo
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:35:00 06/08/2009
Filed Under: Sports Organisations
THE EMBATTLED Philippine Olympic Committee, then known as the Philippine Amateur Athletic Federation, wasn’t set up to have one group at the throat of another. It wasn’t meant to create chaos and sow confusion in sports, like what is happening today.
“The concern of the POC is the harmony of the National Sports Associations and not to undermine its members,” said one disgruntled sports official. “Being under the International Olympic Committee, administrative matters are the only concern of the Philippine Olympic Committee.”
The NSAs are autonomous, their inherent right. These NSAs cannot waive or allow this right to be trampled upon. They shall resist government, religious and economic pressure.
Even Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero is concerned. Recently, he urged the POC to immediately resolve the leadership problems in at least seven NSAs whose athletes are preparing for the Southeast Asian Games in Laos this December.
The youthful senator from Bicol warned that the Philippine campaign in the SEA Games is headed for failure unless the leaders in equestrian, cycling, swimming, archery, wushu, wrestling and billiards settle their differences.
“Our sports leaders, starting with the POC leadership, should show statesmanship at this crucial time,” Escudero said.
Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping has also joined the fray, calling the present POC leadership problem “anomalous.”
Citing in particular the equestrian case, Angping was quoted as saying: “With the recent confirmation of party-list Rep. Carisa Coscolluela as new president of the Equestrian Association of the Philippines by the sport’s ruling body—the Federation Equestre Internatonale (international equestrian federation)—the POC now finds itself in an anomalous situation where both the president and the secretary general do not officially represent an NSA.”
(The POC head, former Tarlac congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, was elected equestrian president last November while close ally Steve Hontiveros, formerly the national bowling association president, was named POC secretary general.)
Retorted Cojuangco: “The obvious bias of the PSC chair appeared to be tainted with malice and is a clear case of government intervention.”
This in-fighting is not doing sports any good. This bickering is demoralizing the athletes and hampering their training and causing the loss and trust of the few remaining sponsors in the NSAs as well.
