Palace, Senate action on PSC-POC sports row sought

Deploring the squabble among sports leaders that she claimed affected the country’s performance in the recent Southeast Asian Games, a senator has called on President Arroyo and the Senate to act on it. “I call on our President to get into this act because this will not only be damaging to the (Filipinos' campaign in the) SEA Games but future sports competitions. It is a disgrace to us as a nation," Senator Pilar Juliana Cayetano said in a press conference.

The senator, who is a known sports buff, has also asked his colleagues to conduct a probe on the power struggle among sports officials. She is now preparing a resolution for it. “I have asked the chairman of the Committee of Sports in the Senate, Senator Lito Lapid who has authorized Senator Gregorio Honasan II to conduct a hearing, I have asked him to hold the hearing in the soonest possible time kasi otherwise, huwag na tayong magkunwari na pinapahalagahan natin ang sports at ang ating atleta when our officials keep on fighting and have not been able to resolve their differences," she said. Bitbit's case Presented during the press conference was cycling champion Maritess Bitbit, who was reportedly pressured to withdraw from the SEA Games in Laos because of the squabble among sports leaders. The senator said Bitbit could have brought at least three medals in the cycling event, which could have improved the country’s standing in the SEA games as what she had done in previous competitions, but was not able to do so because she was prevented from competing. Bitbit was eligible to compete in the Laos meet having licenses from both the International Cycling Union (UCI)-recognized cycling group of Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino and the Philippine Olympic Committee-blessed faction of businessman Mikee Romero. Tolentino and Romero’s group are disputing the leadership in the country’s governing body for cycling. Armed with only POC sanction but lacking the UCI licenses required in international competitions, Bitbit’s teammates were barred from taking part in the SEAG. “My understanding is, the team felt so bad na hindi sila makalaro that they wanted to make a stand. Of the 12 people in the team, she is the only one who has both POC accreditation and UCI license. She alone could have had the opportunity to bring home the gold. But because of the desire to make a stand, which I respect for the entire team, she was pressured not to play. That I believe was wrong," Cayetano said. “They (cyclists) were already there (in Laos), pero hindi sila nakalaro because of the squabble between POC and PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) and this is disgusting. And I really think the President cannot turn a blind eye, she must step in and these people must be held accountable," she added. Bitbit had signified her desire to compete in Laos. "I sympathize with the 11 riders, kasi alam ko din ang sacrifices nila. Athlete ako at ... alam ko talaga ang hirap ang maging siklista. Kung hindi man ako pinayagan, sorry ako, including the 11 riders, sorry din sila. But the fact na pwede akong maglaro sana pinayagan ako. But I don’t have the power na pilitin sila kasi sila ang masusunod eh, athlete lang ako. "Sana this is a wake up call to everybody lalung lalo na marami pang laro, hindi lang SEA Games, may Asian Games this coming November na sa Guangzhou, sana ma-resolve na yung problem sa cycling," Bitbit said. PSC-POC row The POC, the country's Olympic body, has recognized Romero’s camp despite the fact that the world governing body UCI and the Filipino government sports arm Philippine Sports Commission have accredited Tolentino’s faction. Leaders of the POC headed by Jose “Peping" Cojuangco, Jr., and the PSC, led by chairman Harry Angping, have had a public spat over numerous sports policies. The feud supposedly date back to the POC elections of 2008, when Cojuangco beat shooting president and presidential brother Art Macapagal, who was backed by then softball chief Angping. Due to the rift, most decisions made by the POC are not supported by the PSC under Angping and vice versa. In the last SEA Games, the PSC supported only the athletes who met its qualifying standard while the POC was left to scour for funding to send the other bets it felt should be sent to the conclave as well. “They (PSC) did not support it (entire delegation) that’s why POC had to come up with separate sponsors to send these athletes. Thank you that they were able to send separate athletes, but like we see in the case of Tess (Bitbit) and her 11 teammates, they were already there, pero hindi sila nakalaro because of the squabble between POC and PSC and this is disgusting," Cayetano said. Bitbit called for a resolution to the row. "This is a very good time for us, all the sports leaders to please unite, kasi kaming atleta ang kawawa. Sa aming mga atleta, walang problema. Kung suportado kami, thank you sa lahat ng tumutulong sa amin. Kay Mr. Romero, kay Mr. Tolentino, kay Chairman Angping, kay Cong. Peping Cojuangco, wala namang problema sa lahat sa inyo kasi magagaling kayo, kasi lahat kayo marunong tumulong at sumuporta. "But please this is now the time na maisip ninyo na sayang naman yung mga honor na maibibigay namin. Kayo mga sports leaders, sana naman maisip nyo yung sacrifices namin na pwede naming ibigay hindi lamang sa inyo kundi sa buong bansa, she appealed. - GMANews.TV