PSC exec ouster sought

About 200 employees, almost half of the total work force including division and section chiefs, are set to go on mass leave Monday to demand the ouster of top Philippine Sports Commission officials if the PSC does not heed their call for the resignation of a key PSC official charged with "indiscriminate use of his power and functions."

The group is seeking the ouster of Horacio Miranda, PSC executive director for finance and administration, who is reportedly charged with grave abuse of authority in terminating the services of employees and indiscriminate use of power and function in reshuffling PSC employees.

According to an employee close to the PSC chairman, about 20 employees had been indiscriminately fired while many employees have been victims of the "grave verbal abuse" by the PSC official.

They said Miranda is also being singled out for his "close connection and direct involvement" in several controversial PSC-initiated infrastructure projects.

The group has charged Miranda as being "behind the constant delay in payment of benefits to employees such as overtime, honoraria, clothing allowance and productivity, and has introduced the "palakasan system which has caused demoralization among the PSC employees."

"Hindi na namin kaya itong minamaltrato kami," said a signatory. "We are permanent employees and we’ll be with the PSC for a long time, long after they are gone."

Members of the group, which signed a manifesto presented to Tuason yesterday, were advised that Tuason would create a committee to investigate the matter since another group, sympathizing with Miranda, was also formed yesterday.

"We are not going to attend any committee hearing. It’s either the PSC chairman fires this official or we will take mass action on Monday, and that will include the resignation of the entire PSC leadership," said a signatory, who asked not to be identified.

The group seeking Miranda’s head includes permanent and contractual employees. The 200 signatories comprise almost half of the 419 personnel of the PSC – 140 permanent and 279 contractual. The other group has only about 20 signatories as of yesterday.

The petition paper was presented to Tuason yesterday through commissioner William Ramirez and Amparo Lim.

Aside from Miranda, other PSC officials under fire from the athletes are executive director Juan Cuadrado, commissioner Richie Garcia and his assistant Ramon Suzara.