POC print ads put Angping on firing line

Posted on June 29, 2009 blogtopia

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MANILA, Philippines – By means of a paid newspaper ad, the Philippine Olympic Committee executive board has reiterated its call to have Harry Angping removed and replaced as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.

The POC, under Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, made a similar call last March, barely a month after Angping, a former Manila congressman, took his oath as the chairman of the government sports agency.

But Malacañang did not heed the POC call, and Angping, who also serves as Special Envoy to China, continues to enjoy the trust and confidence of President Arroyo four months into office.

The resolution dated June 24 and which came out of yesterday’s papers also had the signatures of POC chairman Monico Puentevella, first vice president Manny Lopez, second vice president Mario Tanchangco, secretary-general Steve Hontiveros, his deputy Mark Joseph, special assistant to the president Go Teng Kok, athletes commission representative Raphael Chua, treasurer Julian Camacho and directors Leonora Brawner, Corinna Mojica, Jeff Tamayo and David Carter.

Cojuangco (equestrian), Lopez (boxing), Hontiveros (bowling), Camacho (wushu) are no longer the presidents of their respective associations, but may continue to occupy their POC posts until 2012.

International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippine Frank Elizalde and POC spokesperson Jose Romasanta also signed the resolution.

They questioned Angping’s “interference” in the formation of the Philippine team to international competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games and the Olympics.

Angping said it’s people’s money being spent on the national athletes and therefore the PSC has the right to at least know where and how the money is being spent – wisely or otherwise.

Angping is also looking at NSAs with unliquidated cash advances running up to millions. The Commission on Audit is not only after the NSAs but all the other government agencies as well.

The POC also lashed out at Angping for denying the POC request for funding a medical team to the first Asian Youth Games, which officially starts today, and for divulging the name of the 14-year-old Filipino football player who tested positive for A(H1N1) in Singapore.

“And finally, we the Executive Board of the Philippine Olympic Committee reiterate our call to the President of the Philippines, Her Excellency Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to appoint a new chairman for the Philippine Sports Commission,” the resolution said.

They said the next chairman should be one who “respects the laws, roles and duties, functions and structure of international sports; has the decency to respect the rights of all Filipino athletes, especially minors; and is able to fulfill the mandate… implement and oversee a national sports program in proper coordination of the POC and the national sports associations.”

Angping said, “The POC wants a PSC chairman they can control and someone who is beholden to them.”