POC to censure Dayrit on Olympic fund issue

The Philippine Olympic Committee will reprimand fencing head Celso Dayrit for accepting the $7,500 allotted by the Olympic Solidarity program for a two-month training of the RP fencers in China two years ago when the Philippine Sports Commission already gave them P1.8 million.

“That is the maximum penalty that can be imposed. We couldn’t suspend them because it is not within the powers of the POC. The POC can withdraw recognition but we could not suspend,” said POC legal counsel Atty. Romeo Malinao.

“We don’t know the implication of this in the international federation,” he added.

But Dayrit said he already returned the $7,500 even as he questioned the POC where the other $2,500 went since the solidarity movement of the International Olympic Committee allotted $10,000.

“I’ve returned the $7,500 last Aug. 28, now where is the other $2,500? That’s the reason I filed a case to the POC ethics committee to look into this,” Dayrit told The STAR.

Dayrit said he would appeal the case before the POC general assembly and air his side of the story.

“I’m ready to face my accusers, I would appeal this in the POC general assembly,” he said.

POC deputy secretary general Mark Joseph, also the swimming head, said “he (Dayrit) is taking some kind of leave and the fencing affairs are now being taken by his secretary general,” a statement denied by Dayrit.

“I’m not on leave,” said Dayrit, who said his association will have its election in December, or a month after the Nov. 28 POC elections.