Cycling official denies assisting Indon team

Ric Rodriguez, team manager of the Casino Filipino Continental Team, denied he committed "unpatriotic acts" since he extended assistance to the Indonesian cycling team.

He said he was not at the airport when the Indonesians arrived Nov. 17, saying he was with another PhilCycling official, technical consultant Atty. Goyo Larrazabal who invited him to the opening of the Eastern Visayas booth.

Neither he nor his driver had a hand in touring the Indonesians at the SEA Games cycling route since it was a police escort, through the consent of Philsoc officials, which assisted the foreign delegates.

Rodriguez took exception to charges he was "a traitor to the country" for extending hospitality to SEA Games guests.

"Masakit lang yung accusations. Actually, there’s no such thing as homecourt advantage since these foreign countries competing in cycling were already provided a copy of the route three months ahead of the SEA Games. And the secretary-general, Sofian Rosian, was already brought by Philsoc officials in Tagaytay a month ago for an ocular inspection of the SEA Games venue," said Rodriguez.

Rodriguez said that it was the Indonesian Track Cycling Team, which was supposed to be billeted at the Contemporary Hotel in Araneta Ave. The team has yet to arrive here. — Bong Castro