Philippine Amateur Swimming Association president Mark Joseph yesterday branded as “lies” the various charges and allegations being hurled against him by a disgruntled group within the swimming community.
Joseph has been out of the country the last two weeks, honoring commitments in Greece and Hungary, both in his capacity as deputy secretary-general of the Philippine Olympic Committee and president of PASA.
While he was away, a group of swimmers, their parents, coaches and representatives of private clubs raised a howl against Joseph whom they claimed is not the “legitimate” head of PASA.
The group has launched the “Save the PASA Movement” and in the process has urged the POC to call for and supervise a regional election from where a new swimming head should be chosen.
The group said Joseph, who maintained that he carries a mandate that’s good until 2010, can run for election. And if he wins the presidency, they are willing to give up the fight and honor the election results.
The group described Joseph as a “holdover” president who should have called for an immediate election 60 to 90 days after he was installed as PASA head by the POC following the ouster of then president Monchito Ilagan.
The group said this condition set by the POC was never followed, and claimed that Joseph has not been transparent in running the PASA affairs.
Joseph is back in the country with three Australian swimming experts who are here to certify the core of trainers, swimming teachers and life-savers in the country.
“I won’t be done until the weekend. Then I will have time to reply to the anti-PASA parents. And then leave for another assignment,” said Joseph in a text message to The STAR.
“Any new lies or ignorant statements made by those people that I need to address?” asked the head of the national sports association that produced the most number of gold medals for the country in the last SEA Games.
Joseph promised that he will “soon” face the issues that came a time when the country is preparing for the Beijing Olympics where PASA has the most number of Pinoy qualifiers.