The Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA party-list) on Thursday called on Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Phillip Juico to resign from his post.
PBA Party-list spokesperson Atty. Migs Nograles issued the statement after Juico was declared persona non grata by the Philippine Olympic Committee following the PATAFA chief’s public spat with Olympic pole vaulter Ernest John Obiena.
Nograles earlier warned PATAFA that Obiena could become another Wesley So and play for another country if they could not properly back up their accusations against the Tokyo Olympian.
“Mahirap naman yata manatili sa puwesto kung wala nang tiwala sa ‘yo ang mga katrabaho mo,” Nograles said.
With his declaration as persona non grata, the POC will no longer recognize Juico as president of PATAFA until the association’s election of a new president.
Nograles added that the POC’s ethics committee’s findings that Juico abused and harrassed Obiena was a serious blow to the ability of the PATAFA chief to continue leading the organization.
“We need to have leaders who can be trusted by their athletes, those who can foster their charges to be the best version of themselves and not drag them down. In EJ’s case, this is especially important because he has a very bright future ahead of him, based on how he fared in the recent competitions he had joined,” she stressed.
The Davaoeña lawyer also urged PATAFA to reinstate funding for Obiena’s training in Italy.
“Every day that EJ is not able to train is a day wasted. Our sports associations should be the key to our athletes’ success, not the cause of their failure,” she said.
It may be recalled that PATAFA ordered Obiena to return €85,000 after accusing the pole vaulter of not paying his coach, Ukrainian Vitaly Petrov.
Nograles added that the POC’s ethics committee’s finding that Juico abused and harassed Obiena was a serious blow to the ability of the PATAFA chief to continue leading the organization.
Both Obiena and Petrov denied the allegations with Petrov later issuing a statement that he has been paid in full by Obiena.
Nograles earlier warned PATAFA that Obiena could become another Wesley So and play for another country if they could not properly back up their accusations against the Tokyo Olympian.
