Palace tells PSC to address rift between Obiena and PATAFA

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) should proactively address the rift between Olympian Ernest John Obiena and the Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association (PATAFA) over the payment for the services of the pole vaulter's coach, the Palace said Tuesday.

"Inaasahan natin na magiging mas proactive pa ang PSC (We expect the PSC to be more proactive)," acting presidential spokesperson Karlo Nograles said.

"We will be closely monitoring the developments," he added.

Nograles made the call after the Senate deferred deliberations on the PSC's proposed budget for 2022 due to its wait-and-see approach on the conflict between Obiena and PATAFA.

PATAFA has accused Obiena of failing to pay his coach Vitaly  Petrov, from 2018 to 2021 following an inquiry of the athletics federations.

Both Obiena and Petrov refuted the allegations.

Since then, the PATAFA and the Philippine Olympic Committee have formed committees to probe the matter.

Senator Pia Cayetano earlier said that the PSC should not sit still while Obiena, who represented the country in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics last August, is being accused of embezzlement of funds without giving the athlete the chance to explain his side.

Obiena, who finished at fourth spot in the Wanda Diamond League finals in Zurich, Switzerland last September, is planning to compete in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.—LDF, GMA News