Graft raps filed vs. top PSC officials

The Philippine Swimming League on Tuesday filed graft charges against Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Ricardo Garcia and five others for allegedly refusing to exempt the group from paying travel taxes for competitions abroad.

 

Aside from Garcia, charges were filed before the Office the Ombudsman against PSC commissioners Salvador Andrada, Jose Ruiz Gomez, Gilian Akiko Thomson-Guevara, and Wigberto Clavecilla as well as legal counsel Guillermo Iroy.

 

In an interview with GMA News Online, PSL's honary chairman and former Senator Nikki Coseteng  said the group had applied last September 30 for a travel order and exemption from travel and airport taxes for its participation in the 16th RBSC Invitation Swim Meet at Royal Bangkok Sports Club in Thailand, which was held on November 29 to 30.

 

Coseteng said Garcia endorsed the group's request to the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), which denied their application.

 

"That is a clear violation of Section 21 of Republic Act 6847," she said.

 

"The Commission and its delegation or representatives to any international sports convention, conference and meeting, and athletes, coaches and other officials to any international competition shall be exempt from the payment of travel tax, airport tax and any other travel related taxes or fees now or hereafter imposed by law or regulation," according to Section 21.

 

In its six-page joint complaint, PSL said the officials violated Section 3(e) of RA 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act.

 

"We have been invited to many competitions here and abroad, so when we go overseas, we go to the Philippine Sports Commission, because they are supposed to be giving us these travel tax exemption, which they are not doing," Coseteng said.

 

She added that most of the athletes have limited budget in participating games abroad.

 

"These kids come from public schools, some of them come from lower-income families," she said.

 

She noted that the PSC should promote grassroots program, "which we, the Philippines Swimming League, are concentrating on." — JST, GMA News