Palace has signed PSC chief, boardpapers?

MANILA, Philippines - The search for the new appointees to the Philippine Sports Commission is over.Or so it seems. Malacañang spokesperson Edwin Lacierda yesterday said President Aquino has already signed the appointment papers of those who will occupy the key positions in the government sports agency under the new administration.

However, Lacierda said they are not ready to make the announcement until “later this week or early next week.”

It’s common practice that once the appointment papers are signed, it takes a couple more days or even weeks before they are officially announced.

The PSC board is composed of the chairman and four commissioners, and their status, under Republic Act 6847, the law that created the agency in 1990, has always been coterminous with that of the President.

Harry Angping, the chairman, and commissioners Jose Mundo, Erik Loretizo, Fr. Vic Uy and Akiko Thomson have all filed their courtesy resignations, and will have to vacate their posts once the names of the new appointees are announced.

Two weeks ago, Philippine Olympic Committee chief Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, the uncle of President Aquino, went to the Palace and met with Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa.

Cojuangco brought with him POC aspirants for the top PSC posts – Ritchie Garcia, Buddy Andrada and Thomson (for reappointment). Sources said Garcia, who has been in and out of the sports agency over the last decade, is reportedly being groomed to replace Angping.