Ethics commission empowered by IOC

The sporting public may not be aware of it but in keeping with a policy of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the local Olympic body has empowered the Ethics Commission to function independently since last year.

This was revealed yesterday by Gus Villanueva, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) media officer, to dispute charges that the current POC leadership led by Celso Dayrit is using the ethics body to harass its staunchest critics.

Rene Cruz, a retired police general and former POC president, was named chairman of the Ethics Commission which has IOC representative to the Philippines Frank Elizalde, De La Salle University president Bro. Rolando Dizon and Wushu Federation of the Philippines honorary lifetime president Francis Chan as members.

"The Ethics Commission has broad functions. It’s a powerful body and it should not be ignored. It cannot be dictated upon by anyone, including past and present POC officials. Its recommendations or findings on cases brought before it can be the bases of sanctions and penalties to be imposed by the POC Executive Board," Villanueva said.

"Therefore, it should be independent so it can act on cases or complaints filed even against the POC president," he added.

Among the cases it may look into are conviction involving crimes of moral turpitude, charges of involvement in heinous crimes, infringement of IOC and/or POC Charter, acts against the POC and/or IOC authority and acts unbecoming a member of the POC and/or IOC family.

The Ethics Commission is authorized to issue warnings, reprimands, condemnation and any other similar censure, and if it deems fit, inform the corresponding International Federation (IF). The findings/recommendations may be endorsed to the Executive Board and/or General Assembly for further sanctions.

According to the POC spokesman, each of the 34 National Sports Associations (NSAs) was furnished a copy of the IOC resolution detailing the amended guidelines of the Ethics Commission which, among others, recognize its independence and responsibility separate from the POC Executive Board.

"The POC wants this body to serve as a watchdog that would help maintain the Olympic body’s integrity as an institution and stability as the umbrella organization of all NSAs," said Villanueva.