PROVING true to its word, the Philippine Olympic Committee Executive Board junked a resolution that declared Philip Ella Juico persona non grata and another suspending the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
“The Executive Board of the POC fulfilled its gentlemanly pronouncement and has lifted the two resolutions rendered by the POC on the Patafa,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said after an emergency meeting by the board.
“The lifting of the resolutions hinged on the successful mediation between pole vaulter Ernest John (EJ) Obiena and the Patafa,” he added.
The Obiena-Patafa rift ended Wednesday last week when both sides agreed to settle their differences amicably in a mediation process brokered by the Philippine Sports Commission.
As a result, the Patafa has practically reinstated the world-ranked pole vaulter and will endorse his participation in international competitions.
“As projected, there were no objections and the motions of lifting were to be considered unanimous,” Tolentino said.
The two resolutions were passed on two separate occasions–the persona non grata last December and ratified by the POC General Assembly and the second, the suspension of Patafa that Tolentino deferred for ratification by the assembly last week.
With the lifting of both sanctions, Tolentino said Juico and Patafa will resume their active status with the POC.
“As I have maintained even before, there are no losers but only winners,” Tolentino said.
“The main winner being the Filipino athlete.”
POC Chairman Steve Hontiveros said the POC move will need to be ratified by the POC general members during its next general assembly meeting.
“The process won’t be complete until it has been ratified by the POC regular members during the next general assembly meeting,” said Hontiveros, who was not present during the board meeting but was informed of the development. — With Bong Pedralvez
