MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia yesterday denied reports that he’s on the way out, saying the meeting with President Aquino the other day focused on the recent Southeast Asian Games.
Talks of a revamp within the PSC swirled the other day, weeks after the country’s disappointing finish in the SEA Games, and that Garcia will soon be replaced as head of the government sports agency.
“It’s all speculation. Kung may balak si Presidente (If there was any plan by the President) then he could have told me already yesterday. I guess we just have to wait what happens after this,” said Garcia.
A reliable source, however, has maintained that Garcia is on the way out and that “101 percent” there will be a revamp in the PSC.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco said he asked for the meeting with the President so he and Garcia could brief him about what really happened in Indonesia during the SEA Games.
“Hindi pa masisibak si Richie (He won’t be sacked yet),” said a POC official.
Garcia blamed the media for speculating on what took place during the meeting, and for trying to connect it to the poor sixth place finish by the Philippines, its worst since 2007, in the SEA Games.
Mediamen covering the PSC beat tried to get in touch with Garcia Thursday evening but did not get any reply. His assistant, Atty. Guillermo Iroy, confirmed at 9:45 p.m. that the meeting took place.