Motion citing PATAFA board members in contempt over EJ Obiena issue filed in Senate

A motion citing the board members of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association  (PATAFA) in contempt for allegedly violating an order to settle its dispute with Olympian Ernest John “EJ” Obiena has been filed in the Senate.

In a motion addressed to Senator Bong Go, Senator Pia Cayetano raised the alarm on the ongoing rift between the two parties after PATAFA president Philip Juico elevated their dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), resulting in Obiena, a pole vaulter, skipping the World Athletics Indoor Championships slated in Belgrade, Serbia this month.

Cayetano said the move violated the truce forged during a Senate sports committee hearing on February 7 where both camps agreed to “amicably” resolve the conflict and other similar incidents in the future through the mediation process offered by the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC).

“By filing the arbitration case, PATAFA practically and effectively closed any possibility of an amicable settlement with Mr. Obiena,” Cayetano's motion read.

“PATAFA escalated the conflict by giving Mr. Obiena another problem that will distract him from his training and consume his time, efforts, and
resources,” it added.

“PATAFA even refused to endorse him, as our country’s sole representative in the pole vault, in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games, Asian Games, and other international athletics competitions. This works not only against Mr. Obiena but also against Philippine sports.”

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III and Senators Francis Tolentino and Panfilo Lacson have co-signed the motion.

Those who are cited in contempt were Juico, Rommel Sytin, Agapito Capistrano;, Melinda Diaz-Salcedo, Noel Silva, Elmer Ngo, Benjamin Espiritu, Felix O. Tiukinhoy Jr., Josemarie Diaz, Rafaelito Villavicencio, Joseph Anton Bengzon, Jaime Villegas, Datu Yusoph Mama, Guillermo Torres Jr., Roberto Uy and Go Teng Kok.

In a separate statement, Cayetano said she decided to cite in contempt the board members because they could have also been the ones who “authorized” Juico “to persecute Obiena in every possible way and to disobey the orders of the Senate Committee on Sports.”

For his part, Go, chairman of the Senate sports committee, said he would issue a show-cause order to the PATAFA board members to explain why they should not be cited in contempt.

The committee will then hold another inquiry to decide on the next course of action, he added.

“Nakikiusap ako sa lahat na isantabi na muna ang pansariling interes at resolbahin ang mga hindi pagkakaunawaan alang-alang sa bansang ating nirerepresenta sa bawat laban,” said Go in a press statement.

“Huwag na sana haluan ng pulitika ang sports dahil walang panalo sa hidwaan na ito. Dahil sa hindi pagkakaunawaan ng magkabilang panig, ang sambayanang Pilipino ang talo,” he added.

(I am urging everyone to set aside personal interests and resolve the conflict in consideration of our country which we represent in every fight. Let us not include politics in sports because no one will win in this row. The Filipinos are the ones who will lose.) —KBK, GMA News