Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Despite SC ruling, battle far from over: Guiao

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THE battle is not yet over as far as the landmark decision of the Supreme Court over the proper remittances of two government agencies to the Philippine Sports Commission is concerned.

Former Pampanga congressman and PBA coach Yeng Guiao yesterday said it’s imperative to see the actual execution of the decision ordering the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to remit the full amount of five percent of its gross income to the PSC from 1993 to the present, and 30 percent of the charity fund of the sweepstakes and lottery draw of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office from 2006 to the present to the PSC.

“Ayaw natin na parang moral victory lang ito. Legally and morally, we’re standing on solid grounds. ‘Yung bulk of the work andiyan na,” Guiao said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum where he was accompanied by his lawyer, Atty. Avelino Guzman Jr.

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“We don’t want this decision to become a paper judgement. Ang kailangan talaga dito ‘yung pondo pumasok sa PSC,” Guzman said in the public service program held at the conference room of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and backed by San Miguel Corporation, PSC, Philippine Olympic Committee, Milo, Smart/PLDT, and the country’s 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus.

“Kaya ang una talaga natin na dapat gawin ay bantayan ang decision na ito because as far as we’re concerned, nagawa na natin ‘yung pinaka-mahirap na parte,” Guzman added.

The Supreme Court handed down the decision last week mandating Pagcor and the PCSO to release the appropriate budget allocation to the PSC or eight years since Guiao, then vice chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports, filed the petition.

Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen penned the decision that was approved by the 15-man Supreme Court.

Guzman said Pagcor and the PCSO have 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration. As of yesterday, the two government agencies have yet to make their move.

Guiao said the PSC could get as much as P25 billion after Pagcor reduced its contribution to just 2.1735 percent of its gross income starting in 1993 on the strength of an executive order from then President Fidel Ramos.

“Ang kuwenta ko, tingin ko nasa P25 billion na,” said Guiao, who considers the decision as the most consequential event since the creation of the PSC in 1990.

The Rain or Shine coach, the lone petitioner in the case, stressed that such a huge amount of budget could help the establishment of sports complexes around the country and fund the training and campaign of Filipino athletes for years to come.

“Masarap pakinggan, magandang isipin. Pero ang dapat makinabang dito ‘yung mga atleta.

Makalimutan na kami, okay lang ‘yun. Pero at least sa next generations of athletes, may na-contribute kami,” said Guiao of the huge contribution he and his lawyer provided for Philippine sports. “Ang dapat lang makinabang diyan ‘yung bayan, ‘yung athletes, at ‘yung sports program sa grassroots level.”

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