MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco said he would rather see Philippine Sports Commission chairman Harry Angping in court rather than face him in a dialogue aimed at ending the bitter dispute between the two sports leaders.
“I already filed two cases against him so I will just see him in court,” said the POC chief yesterday in his weekly program aired over dzSR Sports Radio.
Last November, the chairman of the Philippine (2005) SEA Games Organizing Committee filed cases of libel against Angping for the “sudden, unexpected and unlawful oppression for demanding the immediate refund” of the PSC cash advances to Philsoc.
The PSC alleged that Philsoc has yet to liquidate more than P73 million which the government released as financial support for the staging of the SEA Games, and demanded an immediate refund or charges would be filed against Philsoc. But Cojuangco said the PSC erred in its demand because the P73 million has already been accounted for.
Recently, Cojuangco also asked the court to open the PSC books and look into its finances.
Their rift seemed to have gone beyond control and Cojuangco had to turn down an offer from the Philippine Sportswriters Association to mediate between them.
“We should not bring this up to the media. We are not presidential candidates. We don’t need to explain everything to the public. Kaya doon na lang kami maghaharap (That’s why we’ll see each other in court),” said Cojuangco, an uncle of presidential bet Sen. Noynoy Aquino.
But Angping laughed off Cojuangco’s statement.
“He filed the case so he could buy time regarding the Philsoc issue. All his charges are speculative and with no evidence and based on allegations. Matatawa ka imbes na magalit ka (You’d laugh instead of get angry),” said Angping.
“This is a desperate move on their part. He’s buying time. We received word they are setting up a meeting with the auditors. They’re buying time so they could tell the Ombudsman that they’re now talking to the auditors,” said the PSC chief. – Abac Cordero