SAMAHANG Weightlifting ng Pilipinas (SWP) president Monico Puentevella accused the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) of politicking and meddling in the affairs of national sports associations (NSAs) during Thursday’s Senate hearing on the national contingent’s performance at the 20th Asian Games.
Puentevella blamed the POC for the controversy in volleyball during the Asiad, which erupted after Alas Pilipinas Men team captain Bryan Bagunas revealed the financial struggles of the team before and during the Nagoya Games.
“Ang pulitika sa volleyball, Philippine Olympic Committee diyan ang nakialam,” said Puentevella.
COLUMN: The sad saga of Alas Pilipinas volleyball
During the hearing called by Senate Committee on Sports chairman Sen. Bong Go, Puentevella alleged that former Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Ramon Suzara also had a hand in the controversy.
At the same time, he questioned Suzara’s involvement in the country’s hosting of future major sports events even though he is under investigation by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) for the Phisgoc mess in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games.
“Ang mga taong involved, Tats Suzara, ‘yan din ang mga namumuno na iniimbestigahan ng Senado ngayon sa Phisgoc," he added.
“Ang hinihiling ko, wag sana pakialaman,” said Puentevella.
Puentevella said the POC also meddles in his own sport, citing the 2024 Paris Olympics where he blamed the Olympic body for their zero-medal performance.
“Galing kami sa Paris Olympics, pinakialaman din ang mga bata ko. Dalawang potential medalists, hindi nagtagumpay. Zero, dahil pinakialaman. Sana respeto lang. Sa Philippine Olympic Committee, sana 'wag niyo kaming pakialamanan kasi alam naman namin ang ginagawa namin.”
The former Bacolod congressman and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner also chided the POC for its denying him an accreditation at the Asiad even though he was invited by the Olympic Council of Asia to attend the multisport showpiece.
Puentevella urged Go to help end politics in sports, and vowed that weightlifting will produce more medals in the coming international events with the help of the PSC.
“Tama ka, ang pulitika sa Philippine sports, hintuin niyo na. Magtulungan na tayo, mag-isa na tayo," Puentebella, echoing the call of Go.
“Ako, gusto nila siguro ako palitan eh. Pero magkakaroon pa ako ng medalya sa LA Olympics. Every Olympics, may qualifier ang weightlifting. Minanaliit nila. Pero sa PSC, salamat ako. They are not perfect, but they are doing a good job. Pero because of their help, their assistance and support, we will win another medal in the Los Angeles Olympics."
The POC did not directly respond to Puentevella's statements, but president Abraham Tolentino said "Salamat po sa mga nagpasalamat at salamat din sa hindi nagpasalamat" at the end of the committee hearing.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
