Two days before his tenure expires, there’s no sign that Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez will be allowed to leave his post yet.
The PSC chief said he has not forwarded his curriculum vitae to the next administration, believing that it is time for him to go.
But Ramirez said he will be ready to stay on if incoming President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and his executive secretary Vic Rodriguez entrust him with another six-year term of office.
“Kung sakaling maninilbihan ulit sa bagong president at sa bayan, tatanggapin ko ulit. Lalakasan natin at aayusin ang pagpapatakbo ng Philippine sports,” said Ramirez in a recent radio interview.
Ramirez and the four commissioners of the PSC have already said their goodbyes to the agency’s employees on Monday.
But they have received no word yet anyone of them will be replaced from their posts as of Tuesday.
Ramirez leaves behind a great legacy of having supported the efforts to end the Philippines’ almost 100-year gold-medal drought in the Olympics with weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s victory in Tokyo last year, along with the country’s overall championship in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
The PSC also attributes the great performances of Filipino athletes in the international stage, with the support the chairman got from his commissioners, basketball legend Ramon Fernandez, Charles Maxey, Celia Kiram and Arnold Agustin.
A strong grassroots’ program, according to Ramirez, is also among the contributions of the PSC to Philippine sports in the last six years.
“It’s not perfect. Pero after 32 years, naging maganda ang takbo ng PSC. Maraming nagbago, especially sa policy making,” added Ramirez.