EJ Obiena hopes to get pending gov't funds, PSC says they are working on it

Despite experiencing one of his best seasons recently, which led him to several podium finishes and defeating the world's finest in pole vault, Filipino Olympian EJ Obiena said he has not received any government support since the start of the year.

"I haven't received anything since January of this year to put it that way," Obiena answered when asked in "The Howie Severino Podcast" if he has been receiving government support.

"I think first there was an issue. And when that issue kind of blew up, I think
some stuff were requested to be declined. Because my budget was supposed to be approved, it was already approved by Chairman Ramirez and it was supposed to be ready until 2022, at least the end of this year. Then, it kind of was cancelled for some reason that was requested to be. At least that's what I've heard," Obiena said.

Early this year, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) recommended dropping Obiena from the national team due to his alleged misuse of funds, a move which was described by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) as a "vengeful act."

He has since been cleared by the Commission of Audit, which said PATAFA "unduly burdened Obiena with liquidation duties."

Now that he has been reinstated in the national pool, Obiena said they are currently working on getting those held funds back as he prepares as well for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"I [am] currently working on how to find a way if it's possible to have that retroactive because I still did incur those expenses, I still paid for those. And I would really need that funding moving forward," he said.

"I hope with the new administration, with Chairman Noli Eala with the help of Mayor Bambol Tolentino (POC President), the new president of PATAFA, Mr. Terry Capistrano, I would really hope that we can make it work."

PSC chair Eala, in an interview with GMA News Online, said they are currently working on Obiena's requests.

"EJ Obiena has submitted all of his requests and of course, there was a problem in the beginning because he was suspended, but now he is back in the national training pool, all of his requests are being handled," Eala said.

Eala said that moving forward, athletes should also be free from the burden of handling the funds.

"Well again, it is ensuring that the athletes are spared of the burden of having to handle any of the funds. It will really be coursed through the NSAs (National Sports Associations)."

Aside from the government, Obiena also credited some of his generous supporters such as the alumni of his high school Chiang Kai Shek College.

"It is truly generous of them. This is not their responsibility. This is truly just out of their passion to help. And I think none of this actually I expected. The help of my alumni, especially my high school - Chiang Kai Shek College, I never thought that they would even reach out to me. 'What do you need?'  And I never thought that, not a single day in my life because Chiang Kai Shek College is big in basketball," Obiena said.

"I never thought that the alumni of this school would actually be interested in supporting a non-basketball sport such as track and field, specifically pole vault. And that truly is amazing. Makes it a little bit more heartwarming and to be honest, make you feel appreciated."

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News