Troubled Palaro shelved a 4th time

In view of the clear and present danger surrounding this year’s Palarong Pambansa, the decision to call off the national students games scheduled in Tubod, Lanao del Norte, from May 18 to 24 was finally announced yesterday.

The decision, according to Philippine Sports Commission chairman Eric Buhain, was arrived at during the Legislative Executive Development Authority Council (Ledac) meeting in Malacañang the other day where President Arroyo met with top local officials, including Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Narciso Abaya.

During the meeting, Abaya reportedly said that in as much as the AFP and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have assured the safety and security of the Palarong Pambansa, it was quite "untimely" to push through with the event, taking into consideration the latest developments in Mindanao.

"I respect the declaration of the AFP and the PNP about the peace and order in and around Tubod, but after consultations with majority of the stakeholders in sports, we deemed it prudent not to hold the Palaro at this time when there are conflicts in other areas, however far they are from Tubod," Buhain said.

"The PSC is also thankful for President Arroyo’s concern and support for the Palaro and her desire to hold the Games in Tubod, which is close to her heart. The AFP and the PNP also did an excellent job in securing the venue but we also took into consideration the sentiments of the parents, the athletes and other stakeholders before we decided on the postponement," Buhain added.

Buhain, after meeting with officials of the Department of Education and consultations with the Dimaporos and some parents, however, decided to postpone the games indefinitely.

"While sports is apolitical, we also feel for the innocent victims of this conflict in Mindanao. Sports leaders, athletes, journalists– all of us involved in ensuring the success of the Palaro, are praying for peace and the quick settlement of the conflict. We cannot play while deep in our hearts there are other Filipinos, especially children, who are victims to this conflict," Buhain said.

According to Buhain, President Arroyo and the AFP and PNP leaders accepted his stand on the postponement and gave him blessing to do what is best for the athletes.

"It is our job to ensure the Palarong Pambansa’s success, and we will work for it as soon as we set a new date for the games," Buhain said.

More than 5,000 elementary and high school athletes and officials from the country’s 16 regions were set to take part in the annual event, an integral part of the PSC’s grassroots development program.

The unstable peace and order situation in Mindanao, however, had earlier forced at least eight regions from fielding entries.

The recent attack by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels in the town of Siocon, Zamboanga del Norte, which left at least 27 dead, 24 injured and a lot more missing, weighed heavily on the decision to scrap the Palaro.

It is very unlikely now that this year’s Palaro would still push through in another venue due to lack of time, especially that classes are set to begin a month.

The recent MILF attack forced the President to announce the suspension of the second round of the exploratory peace talks between the national government and the MILF in Kuala Lumpur this weekend.

It was the fourth time that Tubod was denied a chance to host the Palaro, the first in 1998, then in 2000 and last year, due to different reasons like security and logistical problems.

It was such a pity considering that Tubod even had to spend a staggering P500 million to build the Mindanao Civic and Cultural Sports Center just for the Palaro five years ago.

According to Buhain, the Dimaporos respected the PSC’s position. "Although they would really want to show the best face of Mindanao to all of us, Gov. Dimaporo and Cong. Dimaporo also said they would use the remaining weeks to enhance their preparations," he said.

Buhain also called on the athletes and the DepEd regional leaders to stay put and continue with their training,

"We are again in consultation with Education Secretary Edilberto de Jesus, so we can plan and set a new date for the Palaro," Buhain said. "We will also consult with some of the coaches, so we can make a timetable, which we will consider at the time their athletes reach peak form."