PSC chair wants out after Asiad

William "Butch" Ramirez is stepping down as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission right after the 15th Asian Games scheduled this December in Doha, Qatar.

A very reliable source at the government sports agency said the former professor from Davao City will file his resignation after the Asian Games or almost two years since he took over as PSC chief.

"Chairman Ramirez is bidding the PSC goodbye after the Asian Games. Whatever happens in Doha, no matter how many gold medals we’ll win, he said he is stepping down," said the source.

"Chairman Ramirez has served the PSC a long time and he has served to the best of his abilities. I think he has already informed President Arroyo of his plans. He was very, very thankful to the President," he added.

"For him, it’s time to go. And he wants to leave the PSC with his pride and dignity intact, and the name of his family clean. His family has always been behind him, even in his plans to resign," the source said.

Ramirez was in Davao yesterday and could not be contacted for comment.

The 56-year-old Ramirez joined the PSC in 2000 as one of four commissioners under the Estrada administration. For his strong qualities, he was able to keep the position under the Arroyo government.

Shortly after Eric Buhain left the PSC and moved on as chairman of the Games and Amusements Board, President Arroyo appointed Ramirez as officer-in-charge of the PSC in January of 2005.

It was on July 7, the seventh day of the seventh month of the year, that Ramirez officially became the seventh PSC chairman after Cecile Hechanova, Aparicio Mequi, Mel Lopez, Philip Juico, Butch Tuason and Buhain.

Among his early achievements were the strengthening of the PSC bureau, the revival and continuation of the Philippine Sports Institute and the implementation of a unified sports program.

Ramirez has also worked for the improvement of the athletes’ welfare, the formation of bilateral sports ties with China and hopefully Russia, and the improvement of the PSC relationship with the Philippine Olympic Committee.

But what may prove to be his crowning glory was when the Philippines hosted the 23rd Southeast Asian Games last year and for the first time in history emerged as the overall champion.

Ramirez was chef-de-mission of the RP team that ruled the SEA Games, and was given the same honor and privilege for the Asian Games scheduled Dec. 5 to 15. His stint in Doha will be his last.

Once he leaves the PSC, Ramirez plans to return to Davao City and work for the Sports for Peace program of Mayor Rodrigo Duterte. He also plans to spend more time with his family.

News about Ramirez leaving the PSC is expected to create a jockeying for the position. While several names have already cropped up as the next PSC chairman, only the President has the final say.

Among those being mentioned as possible replacement are former commissioner Ray Roquero, current PSC commissioner Ritchie Garcia, or Manila’s Ali Atienza.

Roquero was a former mediaman who was named by then President Fidel V. Ramos as PSC commissioner in 1992. When he left the PSC after a couple of years, he became a town mayor in Antique.

Like Ramirez, Garcia also served under the Estrada administration, and made a comeback last year as an appointee of President Arroyo. He is now in charge of NSA (national sports associations) affairs and is deputy chef-de-mission to Doha.

Atienza is the youngest among the early candidates. He is a former taekwondo athlete and was recently named Presidential Adviser on youth and sports. He is chairman of the Manila Sports Council which focuses on grassroots development.