POC dumepensa laban kay Juico

MANILA, Philippines — Idinepensa ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) ang kanilang desisyon na ideklarang persona non grata si athletics chief Philip Ella Juico mula sa rekomendasyon ng Ethics Committee.

Ito, ayon kay POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, ay para sa kapakanan ni pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena.

“If a president of a member NSA (national sports association) is not in one with the aim and purpose of the POC to protect and take care of the welfare of the athletes, then he or she does not deserve the recognition of POC … as simple as that,” paliwanag kahapon ni Tolentino.

Ang imbestigasyon ng Ethics Committee ay mula sa isinampang harassment case ni Obiena laban kay Juico base sa ipinapasoli nitong 85,000 euros (halos P4.8 milyon) na coaching fees ni Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov simula noong 2018 hanggang 2021.

“As far as the POC is concerned, the Ethics Committee acted within its inherent power which is to determine if the conduct of a member of POC, specifically the president of the PATAFA, is ethical, professional and accep­table to the organization which he belongs to,” sabi ng POC head.

Sinabi kamakalawa ng PATAFA (Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association) na hindi nila binibigyang-halaga ang nasabing deklarasyon ng POC.

Ayon sa PATAFA, isang internal issue ang namamagitan kina Juico at Obiena at hindi pa dapat nakialam ang POC.

“Based on the complaint and evidence presented, his (Juico) conduct towards Obiena, who is a very promising athlete, is unethical and violative of the provisions of the bylaws of POC specifically on uplifting the level of performance of Filipino athletes,” ani  Tolentino.