PSC has full control of Rizal stadium

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Sports Commission yesterday suggested that Philippine Olympic Committee deputy secretary-general Mark Joseph was on the wrong page when he said that under the law, it’s the local Olympic body that has control over the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Atty. Paul Vega, executive assistant to PSC chairman Harry Angping, reacted to reports where Joseph, also president of the RP swimming association, said the POC should have full control of the stadium which has recently been thrown into a controversy.

Vega said Republic Act 6847, the law that created the PSC in 1990, never stated that it’s the POC, which should enjoy control over the historic stadium or any portion of the 76-year-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“The text messages of Mark Joseph were misleading and baseless,” said Vega of Joseph, who as of yesterday was still texting the media of his own interpretation of the law.

The controversy stemmed from a recent partnership between the PSC and La Salle which agreed to spend P7.4 million for the renovation of the football field, and for the use of its own students for a limited period of time during the day.

The football field inside the La Salle campus, which is adjacent to the sports complex, will soon give way to buildings and more classrooms.

The POC reacted as if the partnership was a direct sale of the football field to La Salle. If it was, then P7.4 million would be too cheap a price for the entire football field (120 meters long and 90 meters wide) that sits on a prime area of Manila, a PSC source said.

“I did not sell the PSC (stadium),” said Angping the other day, adding that the partnership should also benefit the national athletes.

“Section 23 of RA 6847 clearly provides that the PSC has full control and management of RMSC facilities and not POC being a non-government entity. First paragraph of Section 23 on sports facilities provides, ‘The administration and full control of all existing sports facilities...shall be transferred to the Commission,’” said Vega.

“In particular, management and full control of all the land, buildings and equipment and other improvements thereon of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. We submit that the law needs no further interpretation as it is clear on the matter,” he added.

Still, Joseph thinks otherwise.

“Having read the PSC law, it clearly says the POC shall have FULL control and supervision over Rizal Memorial. This is why during (former PSC chairman Butch) Ramirez’ time, control over PSC facilities were removed from NSAs (national sports associations).

“Let’s stop and think about it. In fairness to DLSU, maybe the PSC should be transparent and provide all concerned with copies of its MOA with La Salle,” the swimming official said.