THE controversy involving Philippine Amateur Track and Field Association (Patafa) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) had just gotten worse.
The track and field federation threatened to haul the government sports agency to court, particularly commissioner Jolly Gomez, for what it claimed was direct interference and abuse of authority against members of the association’s coaching staff.
Patafa president Go Teng Kok said he got the full backing of the association’s executive board to file administrative and criminal cases against the PSC as it slammed the action of Gomez to stop the monthly allowances of national coaches Joseph Sy and Roselyn Hamero without due process.
Gomez, acting as commissioner de facto for athletics, issued a memorandum last week stopping the allowances of Sy and Hamero worth P20,000 each, citing negligence on their duties and responsibilities on training the athletes in Baguio City, and tampering the attendance and records of the athletes.
“He (Gomez) stated in media interviews the reason for the withdrawal of the allowances is because our coaches falsified the attendance of the athletes. Wala namang naganap na inquiry or investigation, pero may pagbibintang na siyang ginawa. Ito’s paninirang puri sa dalawang coaches,” said Nick Sering, legal counsel of Patafa.
Gomez refused to comment on the matter and instead referred it to PSC Executive Director Guillermo Iroy, who said a meeting with Patafa officials had already been set on Monday afternoon to hear the coaches’ side.
Iroy added the PSC is also willing to show evidence which were used as basis for the removal of both Sy and Hamero in the agency’s roster of coaches.
“Where is justice? They accused our local coaches of wrongdoing and dropped them from the national team without due process,” said Go, who claimed the PSC has no power over a national sports association like Patafa.
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