Pagpapatalsik kay Angping hiling

MANILA, Philippines - Ang pagputol ng suporta sa mga Fil-Foreign athletes, ang pakikialam sa programa ng mga sports associations at ang malawakang pagtanggal sa mga kawani ng sports commission.

Ito ang mga naging basehan ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) para hilingin kay Pangulong Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ang pagpapatalsik kay Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping.

Isang board resolution ang pinagtibay ng POC kamakalawa na kinatigan rin ni Frank Elizalde, ang kinatawan ng International Olympic Committee (IOC) sa bansa.

“The Philippine Olympic Committee hereby calls on President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to immediately relieve PSC chairman Harry Angping and appoint an individual possessing critical understanding of Philippine sports and ensure its development and true progress by fostering a harmonious relationship between the POC, the government and various National Sports Associations,” deklarasyon ng POC Executive Board.

Kabilang sa mga Fil-Foreign athletes na direktang maaapektuhan ng pagtitigil ni Angping ng suporta ay sina swimmers Miguel Molina, Daniel Coakley, JB Walsh at Cristel Simms at tennis ace Cecil Mamiit.

Sina Molina, tinanghal na Best Athlete sa 2005 Philippine at 2007 Thailand Southeast Asian Games, Coakley, Walsh at Simms ay kumampanya sa 2008 Olympic Games sa Beijing, China, habang si Mamiit naman ang naghari sa men’s singles ng nasabing biennial meet.

“It is unfortunate that his indiscriminatory statements against foreign-based Filipino athletes did not consider the contributions made by these athletes in swimming, diving, athletics, tennis, football, volleyball, billiards and snooker and basketball,” ani Cojuangco.

Apektado rin ng naturang aksyon ni Angping ang scholarship grant ng Bolles School sa Jacksonville, USA kay swimmer Ryan Arabejo, ayon kay swimming association chief Mark Joseph.

“Kung ayaw nilang lumapit, ako ang lalapit sa kanila para maayos na ito,” sabi ni Angping sa POC. “They’re just too emotional and I don’t think they really mean it.” (Russell Cadayona)