Delinquent NSAs just lucky — sol gen resigned

Delinquent national sports associations (NSAs) can temporarily heave a sigh of relief with the change of leadership at the Office of Solicitor General.

The resignation of Solicitor General Alfredo Benipayo last week effective April 1 could give these NSAs more time to complete their liquidation report amounting to P80-P90 million.

"It’s good for the NSAs. At least they’ll have more time to prepare their liquidation report," said Guillermo Iroy, executive director of the Philippine Sports Commission.

The OSG, through lawyer Thomas Laragan, is about to file malversation charges against NSAs that have refused to submit liquidation reports despite repeated warnings from the PSC.

But the resignation of Benipayo, who will reportedly be replaced by Presidential legal adviser Eduardo Nachura, might delay the filing of charges against the erring NSAs.

Iroy said the PSC had already cooperated with the OSG in terms of providing the necessary documents to back up the charges that would be filed against these NSAs.

"We’ve cooperated and helped the OSG in every way we can," said Iroy.

Cycling tops the list of NSAs with unliquidated advances amounting to P6 million although Iroy said it had already started complying with the requirements.

Chess, a failure in the 23rd SEA Games, volleyball, archery and karatedo each had P5 million in unliquidated advances. – Joey Villar