Senator and Chair of the Senate Committee on Sports Christopher “Bong” Go has once again stressed that sports should not be tainted with politics amid the ongoing dispute between Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) and pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena, which has already caused the latter to miss the chance to compete in the 2022 World Athletics Indoor Championships held last March 18 to 20.

In an interview after his monitoring visit to the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City on Monday, March 21, Go stressed, “Alam n’yo, sabi ko nga, iwan n’yo na po iyung pulitika sa mga pulitiko. Dapat po huwag ninyong ihalo iyong pulitika sa sports. Eh ang problema dito kung nahaluan na po ng pulitika ‘yung sports, kawawa ‘yung atleta.”

“Eh itong atletang ito (Obiena) may potential at maaaring makapagbigay sa atin ng honor, ng medalya eh nasa-sideline po dahil sa pulitika at pag-aaway,” he lamented.

The senator then urged the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) anew to help expedite the mediation process between PATAFA and Obiena, as recommended in the joint hearing by the Senate Committees on Sports and Finance presided by Go last February 7.

“Ako naman po’y nakikiusap sa ating mga POC members, sa PATAFA, PSC… Kaya nga po last usapan namin sa hearing, being the Chair po ng hearing, ay magkakaroon po ng mediation. So, sabi nila bigyan ng ilang araw ang mediation. Sabi nga ni (PSC) Chairman Butch Ramirez, paglabas natin ng hearing na ito balik tayo sa lamesa, mag-usap tayo – mediation. Eh trabaho po ng PSC ‘yan na magpagitna po kayo,” stressed Go.

He also called on concerned organizations and officials including National Sports Associations (NSA) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) to prioritize the welfare of the athletes and to prevent similar conflicts from recurring.

“Suportahan n’yo po ang mga atleta. Huwag kayong mag-away-away. Kung pwede n’yo naman pong pag-usapan, pag-usapan n’yo na po. The more na nada-drag po ito, tumatagal – the more po nawawalan po ng maayos na representative ang ating bayan,” Go remarked.

“Alam n’yo ‘yung atleta, trabaho po ng atleta mag-training, naka-focus po. It would be very draining on the part of the athlete kung mismong sila po’y nagte-training, at the same time nag-a-account ng pera, kukuwentahin ‘yon. Kaya talagang tutok ‘yung atleta rito – focused sila,” he added.

POC has already suspended PATAFA following its non-endorsement of Obiena to the World Indoors and other major foreign meets. However, PATAFA insisted that it merely did not act on Obiena’s request for endorsement pending the completion of the mediation process.

Meanwhile, Go, in his capacity as the Senate Sports Committee Chair, has issued a show cause order to PATAFA’s board of directors on March 18 asking them to explain why they should not be cited for contempt under Section 18 of the Senate Rules of Procedure Governing Inquiries In Aid of Legislation, for filing an arbitration case despite a prior commitment to undergo mediation proceedings with Obiena.

“Nagpadala na po kami ng sulat, ng show cause order, na i-explain kasi mayroon pong (motion) ‘yung kasamahan ko sa Committee to cite them for a contempt,” noted Go.

“Ako naman po bilang Chair, nagpapagitna, and to always be fair to everybody… nag-order po ako ng show cause order to give them three days to explain kung (bakit hindi) dapat sila i-contempt,” he ended.