ABAP says it extended financial support to athletes, coaches amid delay in allowance

The Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines (ABAP) on Friday addressed the situation of its national athletes following Irish Magno's and Eumir Marcial's pleas for support on social media.

The two Tokyo-bound fighters opened up on the difficulties of preparing for the Olympics while facing delayed allowances.

In a statement, ABAP said it extended financial assistance to all of its boxers and coaches last week and also provided cash assistance during the lockdown last year.

"While we did not want to trumpet our efforts to help our athletes and coaches, we are now constrained to clarify that we have not been blind or unresponsive to their financial troubles," the statement read.

ABAP also said it initially did not comment on Magno's post to allow the Philippine Sports Commission to address the issue.

The PSC on Thursday issued an advisory that the January allowance of Olympic-bound athletes and coaches has been released and the February allowance is being processed.

Meanwhile, ABAP President Ricky Vargas said the athletes will not be reprimanded for speaking out on their situation.

"We are also not going to prevent our athletes from exercising their rights and speaking their mind. This is not to 'spoil' them, but to allow them the basic freedoms provided under our democratic society," he said.

Magno deleted her Facebook post due to "personal reasons," but Marcial said in his post that she was asked to take it down.

"Kapag nagsalita kami magiging masama ang labas. Nag-delete ng post si Irish Magno dahil pina-delete. Ngayon magiging masama ako dahil nagsalita ako at hindi ako nag-reach out," he wrote on Facebook.

("When we speak out, we would look bad. Irish Magno deleted her post because she was asked to delete. Now I will look bad because I have spoken out and I have not reached out.")

Marcial and Magno booked their slots for the Tokyo Games in the Asia and Oceania Olympic Qualifying Tournament held in Amman, Jordan last year.

—MGP, GMA News