Pacquiao to PSC chief: Rid agency of corruption

Senators on Monday told Philippine sports officials to "get their acts together" and solve corruption issues hounding the sports sector.

In a Senate sports committee hearing which he led, Sen. Manny Pacquiao said he was aware that the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has been riddled over the years with corruption.

"I heard there's corruption inside the Philippine Sports Commission and I want you to address that," Pacquiao, a reigning world boxing champion, told PSC chairperson William Ramirez during the hearing.

Ramirez along with other officials from the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Commission (POC), and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp (Pagcor) were invited to the Senate to discuss their plans and programs for Philippine sports under the Duterte administration.

In response to Pacquiao's query, Ramirez vowed to "quickly address" the corruption issue in the PSC, acknowledging that corruption plagues any kind of institution.

Asked after the hearing if he has personal knowledge of alleged corruption in the PSC, Pacquiao said: "May mga madaming narinig ako diyan."

"Ako naman magtanong direct to the point. Hindi na tayo masyado paliguy-ligoy pa magtanong. Kung ano ang dapat ayusin, ayusin. Kung ano ang dapat itigil, itigil na," he added.

Asked by reporters, Pacquiao said he wants to know if corruption is behind the slashing of Pagcor's financial assistance to the PSC.

Under the law, the Pagcor has to remit to PSC five percent of its total revenues.

Since 1993, however, the state-owned casino corporation has slashed its remittance by half, to only 2.5 percent.

"Iyan ang gusto natin alamin. Ang dami natin katanungan na dapat [itanong]. eh hindi [pa] natin naitanong," said Pacquiao, adding that more hearings about the issue would be underway.

"Kung totoo man iyang mga corruption... gusto kong alamin mabuti iyan kasi sa totoo lang isa iyan sa nagpapatigil o nagpapahinto ng mga programa natin at makapag-produce ng magagaling na athletes," he added.

Ramirez also aims to create a "real grassroots and sports-for-all program" that would utilize the budget to be given to the PSC for for Filipino athletes in 52 sports, with focus on Olympic sports.

"Ang plano namin, it will not be very ambitious program pero kukuha lang kami sa schools to save money. Why put up facilities? We will put up another white elephant? Punta na lang sa local government... then alagaan ang mga bata," Ramirez said.

For his part, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also urged Philippine sports officials to "get your acts together" especially since the Senate sports committee is being chaired by Pacquiao.

"It's a rare opportunity na ang Senate chair ng sports is from the grassroots and chairman Pacquiao will really fight for grassroots sports development. So I think it's incumbent for you to get your acts together dahil may champion kayo dito sa Senate," he said. — VVP, GMA News