Tuason resigns

Carlos "Butch" Tuason last night confirmed his resignation as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to give President Arroyo a free hand to reorganize the government sports agency and put an end to the controversies and intrigues involving First Gentleman Mike Arroyo.

In a telephone interview with The STAR, Tuason admitted that he filed his resignation as early as last week. He is scheduled to hold a press conference this afternoon.

"I am giving the President a free hand in reorganizing the PSC," said Tuason, the former national shooting president who was appointed PSC chairman by then President Joseph Estrada in 1998.

"He (Tuason) wanted to spare the President from these continuing intrigues on him being a first cousin of the First Gentleman," a Palace source also told The Star.

The same source added the President had received the resignation letter of Tuason but has yet to formally accept it.

Nevertheless, the source stressed that the President is keen on reorganizing the intrigue-ridden sports body.

However, the same source did not reveal who among the present commissioners – Richie Garcia, Amparo Lim, Butch Ramirez and Cynthia Carrion – would be replaced, although it is most likely that Carrion, a friend of the President since their high school years, might keep her position.

Among the four commissioners, Carrion is the only appointee of the President.

Tuason was reported to have decided to quit "to, once and for all, end all the intrigues" thrown at his first cousin.

"He (Tuason) has made it clear he wants to resign effective immediately so that the President will have a free hand at the PSC," the source added.

Since President Arroyo took office Jan. 20 last year, she has followed the policy of allowing those with fixed tenure of office to stay on and continue even if they were appointees of deposed President Estrada.

Tuason was among those government officials with fixed term of office at the PSC which is attached to the Office of the President.

The same Palace source noted the intrigues at the PSC intensified against Tuason when President Arroyo appointed a long time friend, Carrion, as one of the five-man PSC commissioners.

"She (Carrion) was even the one telling everybody that Tuason has resigned, already pre-empting the President’s announcement," the Palace source added. — With reports from Abac Cordero and Dante Navarro