Palace consoles Azkals over loss, mum on sexual harassment row

Malacañang on Saturday consoled the Philippine “Azkals” football team over their loss to Turkmenistan in the semifinals of the Asian Football Confederation Challenge Cup Friday in Nepal, even as it remained mum on a sexual harassment complaint lodged against members of the team. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the team “put up a good fight” and pointed out Filipinos’ support for the team has not wavered. “Whether you lose or win nakita ninyo ang suporta para sa inyo (Whether you lose or win you saw the support for you),” she said on government-run dzRB radio. On Friday, the Philippine team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Turkmenistan, losing 1-2 after the Azkals scored in the early stage of the game. Valte said Filipinos can see the team’s efforts to represent the country, adding they can always live to fight another day. “You also see their efforts to represent the country. Manalo o matalo sila,” she said. But Valte refused to comment on the ongoing investigation by the Philippine Football Federation on the sexual harassment complaint lodged by former presidential daughter Cristina Ramos. Ramos, a match commissioner of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), had lodged a sexual harassment complaint over an incident before the Azkals' match in Manila. She has filed a complaint particularly against players Angel Guirado and Lexton Moy before the Asian Football Confederation. “I think hiwalayin natin kahit papano. Hindi kami kukumento sa investigation ng PFF,” Valte said. Last week, Valte had said members of the football team may benefit from undergoing orientations to Filipino culture. — LBG, GMA News