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Friday, March 29, 2024

Romasanta: Phisgoc operating without POC nod

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The Philippine Olympic Committee reiterated that it has nothing to do with the embattled Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee Foundation, Inc., a private body that aimed to organize the 30th SEA Games, but is now the subject of an investigation due to alleged corruption and other irregularities.

Acting POC president Joey Romasanta said the formation of Phisgoc Foundation was done without POC executive board approval, that eventually led to the resignation of one of its eight original incorporators in Ricky Vargas as POC president.

Based on its Articles of Incorporation filed before the Securities and Exchange Commission in July of last year, Phisgoc Foundation, with Rep. Alan Cayetano as Chairman, was formed to organize the biennial meet as well as other international games that the country would host in the future.

It also aimed to receive, manage and disburse fund, monies and properties derived from sponsorship, donation, grant and subsidy and allocate it for the purposes of the corporation. It also wanted receive all income and funds derived from the holding of the SEA Games and other future international competitions and be responsible for its disbursements.

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No POC board member was made part of the Phisgoc Foundation. Philippine Sports commissioners were also not part of the core group of Phisgoc, which was against the previous agreement that Rep. Cayetano will be the organizing committee Chairman, while PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez and Vargas will be his co-chairmen.

Romasanta said they were not informed of the new set up.

“Phisgoc has been existing without the recognition of the POC,” said Romasanta, an old hand in Philippine sports. “Mr. (Jose) Cojuangco was ousted in February, then they incorporated Phisgoc in July of last year. We only found out its existence in March. So it means that from July last year to March this year, they have been operating without board approval from the POC executive council.”

There were also questions about Phisgoc’s transactions with the catering, accommodation, transportation, apparel and other suppliers that prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to put it out of the SEA Games equation and delegate the role back to the government, specifically the PSC.

In statement by Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the Chief Executive also wanted to launch an investigation on the private body since massive government money amounting to P6 billion is involved.

“He (Mr. Duterte) said ‘There’s so much corruption there with the private group. It disrupts the work of others.’ That’s why he wants to government to do it,” Panelo said. “As a matter of standard procedure, if there is corruption, supposed to be the agencies concerned in the investigation must delve into that without being asked by the President.”

Malacanang has given the POC executive board members an invitation to discuss the matter with Cayetano and former POC chairman Abraham Tolentino, but the meeting coincides with a crucial POC general assembly set today at the Manila Golf Club.

An International Olympic Committee representative will also be in attendance so there’s no chance for them to turn it down.

“We’re going to have a crucial general assembly meeting on Thursday and we can’t cancel it. It was the IOC and OCA (Olympic Council of Asia) who called the meeting that will pave the way for the election of a new POC president,” said Romasanta. “Our suggestion is to set the Malacanang meeting after the July 28 elections. At least by then, we already have a new POC president.” 

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