MANILA, Philippines - Philcycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino yesterday appealed to the Philippine Sports Commission to spare its athletes and coaches from the leadership dispute surrounding the sport.
Tolentino, also the mayor of Tagaytay City, rued the PSC decision to withhold the allowances and salaries of the athletes and coaches until the leadership dispute is resolved peacefully.
Philip Ella Juico, the former PSC chairman, heads the other Philcycling faction even if it’s the one under Tolentino that enjoys the recognition of the International Cycling Federation (UCI).
“We know that the Philippine Olympic Committee under our president Jose Cojuangco wants the dispute to be resolved. That’s my wish as well even if it is resolved tomorrow or the day after,” said Tolentino.
“But what we cannot accept is the PSC decision to suspend the allowances of our athletes and coaches. Please spare them from this leadership dispute because they need their allowances,” said the city mayor.
The cyclists receive monthly allowances of P6,000 to P10,000 while coaches get as much as P15,000.
“We ask the PSC for reconsideration on behalf of the athletes and coaches. If the PSC wants, they can stage a trial so they can determine which cyclists and coaches should continue to receive allowances. But give it to them,” he added.
The PSC, under chairman Richie Garcia, announced last week that it is suspending the allowances of the cyclists and their coaches until the leadership issue is resolved.
Garcia is out of the country.
In the past, the PSC had withheld any financial support to the NSAs (national sports associations) with leadership disputes but continued to give the allowances and salaries of the athletes and coaches.
“We can’t understand why this time, the PSC has totally suspended them. Our athletes continue to train and therefore they deserve to get their allowances. We have the SEA Games coming up,” said Tolentino.
“Don’t drag the athletes into the mess. These are our gold medalists. The PSC was created to help the athletes, to support them. If they don’t want to give the money to us leaders, it’s fine with us. Give it to the athletes,” said Tolentino.
He said these athletes deserve all the support they can get as they gear up for the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia in November, adding that he doesn’t care if there are athletes from the other group who will qualify.
“What’s important is for us to win the gold medals. If any of the cyclists from the other group qualify, just let us know, and we will grant them their (UCI) licenses so they can compete in the SEA Games,” Tolentino added.