Ramirez all set to leave PSC post

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez, who had offered to quit his post in the aftermath of the Olympic debacle, is staying put – until the end of the year.

“Maybe until after the POC elections in November. I have decided, and my family has decided that I’d be out of the PSC by next year,” Ramirez said yesterday.

“It will be up to Malacañang whom to appoint as my replacement. There are people capable of running the PSC,” he said.

“I feel excited to once again start living a quiet life. Of course I will miss the PSC but there is no rancor on my part. Maybe it’s time to give the others a chance,” said Ramirez.

“Besides, I’ve lasted long enough and I’ve weathered the storms. Even when I was still a commissioner, there were people who wanted me out. But I went on to become the chairman.”

A reliable source said yesterday that Ramirez, who’s been with the PSC for almost 10 years now, as commissioner, officer-in-charge and as chairman, has been prevailed upon from resigning.

“He was told by President Arroyo to help find the solution instead of resigning,” said the source. “Even Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita had spoken to him recently.”

Ermita reportedly told Ramirez to “forget about resigning because you are not being asked to resign.”

Ramirez, a former professor at Ateneo de Davao, took it hard on himself after the Philippines went home empty-handed from the Beijing Olympics last August.

Ramirez said a complete overhaul of the RP sports organization is needed, and if heads needed to roll, he wouldn’t mind resigning, and giving others the chance to run the PSC.

“But he had to be reminded not to take all the blame. He’s not the one in charge of recruiting the athletes, choosing the coaches, and drawing up the programs of the different sports,” the source said.

“His only role is to provide the support. And regarding the financial support, he can only give to the different national sports associations (NSAs) what the government gives him.”

Ramirez said a month ago that he was ready to call it a day as PSC chairman, as he looked forward to more time with his family, writing a book on RP sports, and finding another job in Davao.

“It’s time to go,” he said.