PSC, PATAFA working to reinstate EJ Obiena in national team

The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) are now working to reinstate EJ Obiena in the national team.

According to PSC, new PATAFA president Agapito Capistrano has already sent out an email letter to PSC in which he informed the latter that they are bringing the pole vaulter back in the pool.

Capistrano said the decision came following the recent success of Obiena that included bagging a bronze medal and setting a new Asian record in the World Athletics Championships.

Capistrano added that with the reinstatement, they are endorsing for Obiena to be "given the same allowances previously extended to him based on his classification as a world class athlete."

PSC Officer in charge Atty. Guillermo Iroy Jr. said that he has already instructed the concerned offices of the agency to act on the matter with dispatch.

"I see no problem with the endorsement, EJ deserves to be back in the team," he said.

Obiena was excluded from the national training pool after PATAFA accused him of misusing his allowance. The Olympian was recently cleared by Commission on Audit (COA), proving he did not use government money for other purposes.

—Bea Micaller/MGP, GMA News