The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) issued an official statement on Wednesday, Nov. 24, in connection with the ongoing row involving the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) and national athlete/ pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
The PSC wants both camps to resolve the issue confidentially and avoid issuing statements to the public or via social media.
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Below is the official statement from the Philippine Sports Commission:
“On this issue between the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and national athlete EJ Obiena, we assure everyone that we at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) did not take the matter lightly.
Even before issuing our previous statement that “we shall intervene when appropriate,” we have already quietly started a series of separate dialogues with each of the concerned parties, with the quick and just resolution of the issue in mind.
The PSC was created with the athletes in the heart of its being, to protect their welfare and ensure a conducive environment for sports excellence. We have been dedicated to fulfilling this mandate.
We remain vigilant in the dispense of our tasks, part of which are protecting our national athletes and ensuring the proper use of any financial assistances given to any organization like the PATAFA.
While we wish for the matter to be handled with confidentiality, we are bound by duty to mediate and call both parties to the table in the interest of truth and arresting the damage this tussle has done on our country’s image in the international sporting world.
We now demand the parties to refrain from issuing statements to the public and on social media. We hope the imposition of this moratorium will allow this proposed dialogue a chance to help all of us arrive at a proper resolution on this matter.
The PSC believes that alternative dispute resolution is an efficient tool and alternative procedure for conflict resolution between the federation and the athlete.
Should this option fail, we regret that the PSC shall be constrained to implement actions that would negatively redound to the concerned federation with regard to financial assistances.
We shall not allow this to spoil the successful gains of the Philippine in sports. Let this year remain with the glorious glow of the golden victories of our sports heroes.
The PSC will be issuing an update once a positive outcome of the dialogue and settlement of these issues between the parties involved are reached.”
(PCO) – bny
