POC, PSC at odds over liquidation from 1998 Asian Games

Following the Philippines' campaign in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, two of the country's top sports organizations seem to not be seeing eye to eye over a liquidation matter from an event held 25 years ago.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino said he received a letter from the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), which is led by chairman Richard Bachmann, regarding P10 million in unliquidated financial assistance the PSC gave during the country's participation in the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand.

The issue between the POC and PSC came just after the Philippines wrapped up its campaign in the recently-concluded Asian Games, where the country finished in 17th place with four gold medals, two silvers, and 12 bronzes.

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"While we were here on the first day and waving the Philippine flag, they sent us the letter with an instruction 'to answer within five days' upon receipt," Tolentino said.

According to Tolentino, the letter’s date stamp was on September 20, a day after Tolentino and other sports officials arrived in China for the Hangzhou games and three days before the opening ceremony on the 23rd.

The unliquidated P10 million was sourced from the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), but was eventually listed as its contribution to the PSC.

Back then, Cristy Ramos was still at the helm of the POC while Philip Ella Juico, who is the former Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president, was leading the PSC under the late former president Fidel Ramos' term.

Tolentino believes that the letter, which came from the in-house Commission on Audit (COA) team at the PSC, came at the wrong time.

"Why send the letter on September 20? Why not after the closing ceremony? Perhaps October 10 when we have all gone home," Tolentino said.

"Give me one valid reason for the Filipino people on the timing of the sending the letter. Why? To distract us? That’s malicious intent… bad faith."

Bachmann, in a separate statement, said the PSC is not involved in the issuance of letters or notices by the COA.

"These demand or confirmation letters are routinely sent to entities with unliquidated balances, and the POC is no exception," Bachmann said.

"The COA operates independently from the PSC and, as far as we know, has the authority to examine, audit and settle all governmental accounts, including those of the POC."

In addition to the P10 million, the POC is being asked to liquidate P2.5 million in financial assistance to athletes and officials who participated in the Vietnam SEA Games last year and P600,000 for the national swimming team's preparation for the Cambodia SEA Games last May.

Tolentino said this is something they will do, but questioned the inclusion of the assistance for the 1998 Games.

"That 2.5 million [for Vietnam] we can liquidate because it was spent for the airfare of athletes and coaches who flew early for the SEA Games, even [PSC Commissioner] Bong Coo availed herself of that early departure to Vietnam," Tolentino said.

"On the assistance to the swimming team, we’re reconciling all the documents… That we’ll liquidate because the swimming association was suspended then and the POC supervised its operations."

"But not the 10 million for the 1998 Asian Games."

PSC: 'No back has been stabbed'

Bachmann insisted that it was not the intention of the PSC to be a distraction to the athletes, stressing it only has "full-hearted support and encouragement".

"All our Asian Games participating athletes, medalists or non-medalists, themselves can hopefully attest to this. No wedge has been driven anywhere, and no back has been stabbed," Bachmann added.

"From the start, we have only been transparent and try to preserve our integrity as mandated by COA regulations and PSC policies - with considerations accorded."

—JMB, GMA Integrated News