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ADDITIONAL MUSCLE FOR COJUANGCO

PSC gives POC more power over NSAs

By Julius Manicad

07/24/2010

The Philippine Sports Commission will no longer meddle in leadership issues among national sports associations (NSAs)

This was bared yesterday by newly-installed PSC Chairman Richardo Garcia, who said warring NSA leaders should first secure recognition from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) before drawing support from the government funding agency in sports.

Openly recognizing the POC as the highest sport entity in the country, Garcia said government will not take a partisan stand on NSA disputes and will only support organizations that are being recognized by the Olympic body.

The PSC, under the administration of Harry Angping, used to support NSA leaders who posses recognition of their respective international federations.

Angping’s mandate, however, drew flak, especially from the POC executive council — most of them officials who were unfriendly to Angping.

A handful of NSAs are locked in disputes, including the Equestrian Association of the Philippines (EAP), led by POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, himself. The matter is still being settled through the intercession of the Federacion Equestre Internationale (FEI), which ordered a status quo that preserved Cojuangco’s leadership.

Garcia, a two-time commissioner who was recommended by Cojuangco President Aquino — his nephew, said this should not be the case.

“The government is not authorized to recognize an NSA,” Garcia said. “We should always take a non-partisan stand in NSA disputes. We should not meddle in their trouble because our role is to fund those who are recognized by the NOC (national Olympic committee).”

Garcia also said should there be questions about the legitimacy of a certain NSA leader, the matter should be brought before the POC executive council, and not to the PSC.

The PSC’s job, he added, is to fund, not to mediate or meddle.

“Kung may problema sila, dun na lang sila sa POC maglaban-laban,” he said. “And if the matter is already settled in the POC, we will automatically give them an all-out support.”

“The POC is the highest sport body in the country. Even if they are recognized by their IF or the IOC (International Olympic Committee) for that matter, for as long as they do not have POC recognition, the PSC cannot support them.”

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