MANILA, Philippines - Ang magkaibang political parties ang posibleng dahilan ng hindi pagkakaunawaan nina Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, Jr. at Philippine Sport Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping.
Ito ang nakikitang dahilan ni Francisco Elizalde, kinatawan sa bansa ng International Olympic Committee (IOC), hinggil sa magkaibang pananaw nina Cojuangco at Angping.
“While the PSC chairman belongs to the administration, the POC president is with the opposition,” wika kahapon ni Elizalde kina Angping at Cojuangco. “This is the reason why there is lack of mutual respect for each other.”
Nalantad ang banggaan nina Cojuangco at Angping, dating mga kinatawan ng Tarlac at Maynila sa Kongreso, sa nakaraang 25th Southeast Asian Games sa Laos.
Ginastusan ng PSC ang napili nilang 153 national athletes, samantalang sinuportahan naman ng POC ang idinagdag nilang 98 sa 2009 Laos SEA Games.
“That was ridiculous to say the least. But such was not an extreme situation where the IOC can step in and involved itself by isuing sanction like suspension as in the case of Kuwait,” ani Elizalde.
Napatawan kamakailan ng IOC ng suspensyon ang Kuwait dahilan sa ‘government intervention’.
Ang nasabing sigalot nina Cojuangco at Angping ay nakaabot na sa IOC headquarters sa Laussane, Switzerland, pagbubunyag ni Elizalde.
“No, we’re far from being sanctioned or, worse, suspended. But, definitely, they’re watching us. What is ironic here is that it will not be the PSC that will feel the brunt of the IOC ire but the POC if ever there will be penalty,’ sabi ni Elizalde.
Nagsampahan na rin ng demanda sina Cojuangco at Angping hinggil sa hinahanap na pondo ng Commission on Audit sa POC mula sa pamamahala nito sa 23rd SEA Games noong 2005.(Russell Cadayona)