Cojuangco urges AFP to release nat’l athletes

VIGAN, Ilocos Sur – Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose "Peping" Cojuangco Jr. yesterday asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to release members of the national team under its wing to be able to begin their training in preparation for international events like the 2007 Bangkok Southeast Asian Games and the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"We’ll try to talk to the AFP and hope they release these athletes so that they can finally start training," said Cojuangco, who graced the inaugurals of the second Philippine Olympic Festival’s Central Northern Luzon Qualifying Games here before he left for Manila yesterday.

The AFP, which through the years has been a traditional source of elite athletes, recalled all 194 athletes after the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

"These athletes should have started training this month. Failure to do so would only delay their preparation," said the former Tarlac Representative.

Among the athletes who are currently being barred from training are Joan Tipon and Violito Payla, who bagged the boxing gold medals in Doha. Tipon and Payla are also two of the athletes tipped to make it to the Beijing Olympics.

Cojuangco said the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission have already come out with a list of athletes competing in the Bangkok SEAG.

"We already have the list, the bulk of which are from the military," said Cojuangco.

The country is bracing for its defense of the overall crown in Bangkok after topping the Manila SEAG in 2005.

The POC and the PSC have identified 40 athletes capable of winning the Olympic gold. – Joey Villar