After serving the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association for seven years, Philip Ella Juico is quitting as its president and giving way to businessman-sportsman Agapito Capistrano.
Capistrano, the association’s former executive vice president and secretary-general will take over the post the 74-year-old Juico has held since 2014
Juico resigned as president following a board meeting held yesterday at the Diamond Residences in Makati City.
Capistrano was appointed by the board to take over the unexpired portion of Juico’s term, which is up to November 2024, and after the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
Despite his resignation, Juico will remain a member of the Board since he was elected as Chairman Emeritus.
Juico, who is best remembered for his numerous local and international initiatives and advocacies, assumed the post in 2014 from Go Teng Kok.
“The PATAFA shall always remain steadfast to its core values of integrity, honesty, competence, and sincerity, the same values required of all PATAFA athletes, coaches, and other stakeholders,” said Juico in a statement.
Juico and PATAFA stood their ground following a controversy involving pole vaulter Ernest “EJ” Obiena over allegations of mishandling of government funds last year.
“I am not leaving PATAFA or the sports community, as it is here where my heart lies but for now, I look forward to more family time and an opportunity to concentrate on personal and business interests and ventures and community advocacies,” added Juico.
Juico was named Executive of the Year by the Philippine Sportswriters Association in 2018. He was Secretary of Agrarian Reform from 1987 to 1989, was chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission from 1995 to 1998, dean of the De la Salle Graduate School of Business from 2002 to 2008, and Vice President of the Asian Athletics Association from 2015 to 2019, member of various Commissions of the WA from 2015 to 2018, and TOYM for government service in 1987.
in 2014, Juico was instrumental in helping conceptualize and putting in place various governance, integrity, and transparency reforms in World Athletics upon the assumption of Olympic gold medalist Lord Sebastián Coe as President of World Athletics (WA).