PHL Swimming League, VACC call for change in athletes' selection process, decry corruption

The Philippine Swimming League and the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption on Thursday said there is a need to curb corruption in sports and change the process of selecting athletes for national teams.

PSL chairman and former Senator Nikki Coseteng appealed for an "inclusive" selection process of athletes who will join the national team for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games 2017 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In a press conference, Coseteng said, "Yun pong selection process matagal na po nating pinaglalaban 'yan. Bakit po? Dahil gusto nila, sila-sila lang." 

"Very exclusive 'yung kanilang sistema ng pagpili ng atleta. Puro paborito nila at dapat miyembro kayo ng PSI (Philippine Swimming Inc.)," she said. 

UPDATE: Pagpili ng atleta para sa swimming event ng 2017 SEA Games, kinuwestyon ng PHL Swimming League at VACC. | via Carlo Mateo pic.twitter.com/v2MnE36uQz

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 9, 2017

Coseteng cited their athlete, Jerard Jacinto, who was not accepted in the national team for swimming. 

"Let's take the 200-meter backstroke. Jerard Jacinto got 2:09.65 seconds. Gerard Reyes at 20 years old, he is five years older than Jerard, he got 2:11.84 seconds," she explained, noting that Reyes was slower than Jacinto.

"Bakit 'di niyo isama sa national team si Jacinto? Mas mabilis na siya doon sa dalawang taga-Ateneo at isang taga-DLSU. Where is the fairness here?" Coseteng said. 

"It must be open to all," added Susan Papa, president of the PSL. 

Zero tolerance for corruption

Meanwhile, VACC Chairman Dante Jimenez also called for "zero tolerance corruption in Philippine sports." 

"Kami po ay nananawagan sa ating gobyerno lalo na sa Kongreso na magkaroon ng inquiry in aid of legislation to investigate the various anomalies under the Philippine Olympic Commission," Jimenez said. 

"Dito pala sa sports, katakot-takot din po ang political patronage," he added, citing that hundreds to millions of pesos are being alloted for sports development. 

The two groups also slammed Mark Powell Joseph, president of PSI, for allegedly withdrawing millions of pesos from government funds purportedly for swimmers, only to be used for corrupt purposes. 

The Sandiganbayan earlier issued a warrant of arrest against Joseph, who remains at large, for violating RA 3109 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. 

"Bakit 'di pa 'to sumu-surrender? Bakit 'to nakalabas ng bansang Pilipinas?" Jimenez questioned, citing that Joseph was last seen in Dubai in November 2016. 

"His leadership is marred by arbitrariness, oppressiveness and official indiscretion: young swimmers were unjustly stripped of medals, accused of having fake Philippine passport; participating in international and community swimming competitions were stopped and coaches seeking further education were threatened of suspension," PSL said in a press statement. 

"He neither had the gift of leadership nor possessed the influence and moral force which could solidify the swimming association to better and faster achieve out national goals," the statement added. 

The PSL, after six years, was recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission as a national sports association, having its solid grassroots development program in the country. 

Four PSL swimmers were recognized by the Philippine Sportswriter Association: Kyla Soguilon (Female Athlete of the Year), Micaela Mojdeh, Marc Dula and Jerard Jacinto. All of them were recipients of the Tony Siddayao Award. —KG, GMA News