Ming urges POC to settle PBA row

MANILA, Philippines - Former First Lady Amelita “Ming” Ramos yesterday called on the Philippine Olympic Committee to finally clear the air by issuing an official statement recognizing her, and not former national team head coach Errol Chan, as president of the Philippine Badminton Association.

Ramos said the POC can help restore peace and order within the badminton association by saying it continues to recognize her as PBA president. This should also stop Chan from performing the duties only reserved for NSA (national sports association) presidents.

“I’m willing to settle this so we can move forward,” said Ramos over the phone as she looked forward to further developing the sport in the country and fielding players to international competitions without any contention from any other group.

Only last Feb. 12, the Badminton World Federation, the

 governing body in the sport, wrote the former First Lady, saying “the BWF has not endorsed or recognized any alternative governance or management group of the Philippine Badminton Association.”

The Philippine Sports Commission, the government’s funding arm for sports, also wrote Ramos a similar letter, certifying “that the PBA under Ramos is the only recognized and governing body of badminton in the Philippines.”

But Ramos, PBA head since 1995, said she isn’t convinced that the POC is truly recognizing her as PBA president despite a statement issued by POC deputy secretary-general the other day.

“The POC recognizes Ming Ramos as president, and always has,” said Mark Joseph, the president of the RP swimming association, after newspaper reports came out that the BWF has reaffirmed its support of Ramos’ group.

“That’s why the IF (international federation) recognizes her, too,” said Joseph, adding that the POC “is cognizant of an internal dispute which they themselves can resolve simply by following the local badminton’s federation’s by-laws.”

“But I cannot understand the POC regarding the recognition. In one assembly the POC asked me to attend but when there was an issue to be voted upon they did not recognize me and they did not allow me to vote,” she said.

“That’s why I asked why they had to invite me when they do not recognize my presence.”

Because of a leadership dispute between Ramos and Chan, the POC ordered an election in May last year. In that election, Ramos was elected president, and Chan, who once headed the PBA’s grassroots program, as vice president.

“Then they ousted me,” said Ramos, adding that Chan continues to use the PBA letterhead that also says it’s the one “affiliated” with the BWF.