POC withdraws recognition of Juico as PATAFA chief

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) yesterday declared Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Ella Juico “persona non grata” for alleged harassment and abuse against Tokyo Olympics pole-vaulter EJ Obiena.

“We’re dealing with an Olympian and world class athlete who has a future,” said POC president Abraham Tolentino after their hybrid executive board meeting at the East Ocean Palace in Parañaque yesterday.

Juico has yet to issue a reaction to the POC decision.

Eleven of the 14 executive board members attended the meeting with chairman Steve Hontiveros absent and International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski and netball’s Charlie Ho abstaining.

Athletes Commission representative Nikko Huelgas moved for the recommendation made by the Ethics Committee chaired by rowing’s Patrick Gregorio against Juico and was seconded by POC vice presidents Al Panlilio of basketball and Richard Gomez of modern heptathlon and fencing.

“We are not removing him (Juico) as (PATAFA) president, we’re not suspending him, we’re just declaring him persona non grata,” said Tolentino.

The POC said it will not recognize a PATAFA president until an election is held and a new president is installed.

The decision came exactly a decade after the POC handed down the same decision against Go Teng Kok, Juico’s predecessor at PATAFA, for violation of the POC constitution and by-laws by filing a court case against the POC then headed by Jose Cojuangco.

Obiena sought the help of the POC after PATAFA accused him of allegedly falsifying liquidation reports involving payment of salaries to the former’s Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov.

The Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and Asian record-holder denied the allegations.

“We have to stop it. He (Obiena) complained to the Athletes Commission and Ethics Committee. There was due process. There was clarificatory meeting. He (Juico) waived his right so we have to decide,” said Tolentino.