Datu Abdilnasser Kiram, who headed the RP delegation to the meet which the Filipinos topped with six gold medals, confirmed to PSC executive director Atty. Guillermo Iroy that the six athletes – Larry Sarial, Vivencio Dungniz, Mark Corneta, Alelei Hernandez, Nelson Baynes and Angibden Sangkula — have been lured by the great opportunity waiting them in Europe and intentionally opted to stay as undocumented aliens.
"Based on the admission of the team’s officials that the six athletes went into hiding, we have no choice but to blacklist them," said Iroy.
Kiram said Hernandez, also a reserved officer with the Philippine Air Force, has reportedly found a job in London as a caregiver with a reported income of 5,000 euros or approximately P350,000.
Baynes is also with Hernandez in London although he has yet to find work and currently lives on the support of the Filipino community there.
"Yung apat nasa Italy na at mayroon na rin daw mga sponsors doon. Hindi naman kami nagkulang ng paalala, pero talagang nadiktahan ng mga kababayan natin doon," said Kiram.
As Class B athletes, all six are receiving just P6,500 monthly allowance and P350 as meal stipend from the PSC.
Iroy said they would also recommend to the Armed Forces of the Philippines that the three military men be discharged.
"This should set an example to other athletes contemplating of doing the same, sasama kasi ang image ng gobyerno sa nangyaring ito at magiging black eye ito sa atin," Iroy said.
This developed as several national sports association (NSA) heads disclosed that the issue could greatly affect the preparations of local athletes for the coming Southeast Asian Games, particularly those who are set to undergo training abroad.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) could not issue a decision on the controversy since its president, Jose Cojuangco, is currently in China.
But at least four NSAs have expressed concern on the negative effects of the players’ decision to go TNT.
"Tulad namin, patungo kaming Italy for a series of tournament at training. Wala pa kaming visa. Baka ang mangyari hindi na kami bigyan," said karatedo chief Ed Ponce.
The other NSAs competing in international tournaments this month are boxing, taekwondo and athletics.
The boxers are competing in the 27th Kings Cup in Thailand and the Ahmet Comert tournament in Istanbul, Turkey this month while the jins are leaving for Madrid, Spain over the weekend for World Taekwondo Championships.
Only athletes Christopher Yabut, Emmanuel Baesa, Marniel Dimla, Nerlyn Huinda, Kiram, also the Pencak Silat Association of the Philippines secretary-general, and Indonesian coach Suhartono returned home the other day.
Sarial, Baynes and Hernandez, all members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, accounted for three of the six gold medals the country won in the meet.
Still, Iroy said the PSC is giving the six athletes 15 to 30 days or at about the time their single entry visa expires, to make a decision on their trip.
The visa of the six RP bets will expire on April 22. — With report from Joey Villar