Naghahanda ang legal team ni EJ Obiena na kasuhan ang nanira sa Olympian pole vaulter at sa pamilya nito- partikular sa kaniyang ina. Kaugnay ito sa sigalot ng atleta sa Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

Ayon sa legal spokesperson ni Obiena na si Atty. Bobbet Bruce, pinag-aaralan nila na kasuhan ng slander o libel ang mga taong nasa likod ng pagdadawit sa ina ni Obiena na si Jeanette sa isyu.

"Our legal team is also preparing our cases for people who have wronged EJ Obiena and his family. It's all being studied now. His mom's name has been also dragged into this, she's being accused of taking money also. And she was accused publicly," sabi ni Bruce sa panayam ng GMA News Online.

"Her name was mentioned so many times during the [PATAFA] press conference so we are looking at that. So if there's a reason for us to file a case, then we will also file the appropriate action," patuloy niya.

Sa press conference nitong Martes, sinabi ng PATAFA na ang ina ni Obiena, na dating auditor ng athletics body, "misappropriated the amount of P624,116.76 she claimed from the PSC under pretext that is a reimbursement of the coaching fee paid to Vitaly Petrov for the months of January 2019 to March 2019."

"The Estafa filed by PATAFA, these are funds coming from PATAFA. And those coming from PSC and public funds, we will refer that to PSC and to COA with our reports and attachments so that they’ll be the ones to file the case against EJ Obiena and Jeanette Obiena, the mother," ayon kay Felix Tiukinhoy, miyembro ng PATAFA board of trustees.

Hindi umano palalampasin ng kampo ng atleta ang naturang alegasyon sa ina ni Obiena.

"If they accused her of stealing money during the presscon, then it's slander. If it's written, it could be libel. We're still looking at everything," sabi ni Bruce.

"We are very careful with these things because it affects people's lives," dagdag niya.

Sinabi rin ni Bruce na nakatuon pa rin ang kanilang atensyon sa planong kaso na isasampa ng PATAFA laban kay Obiena, na no. 6 pole vaulter sa mundo.

Ayon sa Patafa, plano nilang kasuhan ng estafa si Obiena kaugnay sa umano'y mishandling ng pondo na 6,000 EUR (P360,000) na pambayad sa kaniyang coach.

Itinanggi ni Obiena ang paratang at sinabing handa nitong harapin ang isasampang kaso laban sa kaniya.

"We have no choice but to respond and prepare a good defense for EJ. Our legal team led by Atty. [Alex] Avisado is confident that we will come up with a good defense for EJ," ayon kay Bruce.

"We're just preparing because until there's a case, we cannot do anything," dagdag niya.

Samantala, kahit inirekomenda na PATAFA na alisin si Obiena bilang manlalaro ng bansa, sinabi naman ng atleta na handa pa rin niyang katawanin ang Pilipinas sa kompetisyon.

Naniniwala rin siya na lalabas din ang katotohanan.

"My legal team can now go about the business of clearing my name and my family’s name. Righteousness always wins in the end," pahayag.

"I am always willing to compete for the flag and the country I love with my entire being. I have said before that I will only not jump for the Philippines if Philip Juico doesn’t let me jump for my country," ayon pa sa atleta.

—FRJ, GMA News