Fernandez to seek damages vs Peping

MANILA, Philippines - PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez said the libel case against Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco will soon be filed, and added that he will seek in damages an amount that should be enough to produce a gold medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Fernandez said the libel case, stemming from Cojuangco’s allegations that the former “threw away” games while he was still playing in the PBA, will be filed as early as Monday.

“We will file the case in Cebu City,” said Fernandez.

Asked how much he would seek in moral damages, the 63-year-old commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission said he and his lawyers have yet to come up with a definite amount.

“I’m still trying to look for a sports program to fund. We are still looking at a budget that can produce our first (Olympics) gold in 2020. That will be the amount that I will seek as damages from Congressman (Cojuangco),” he told reporters yesterday.

“He (Cojuangco) will fund that program,” Fernandez added after he graced the PSA Forum at the Golden Phoenix Hotel, accompanied by Atty. Ramsey Quijano, head of the newly formed arbitration and grievances committee in the PSC.

Cojuangco has received severe criticisms from Fernandez since the 63-year-old PBA Hall of Famer was appointed by President Duterte to the PSC in June last year, and since the former congressman from Tarlac won a fourth term as POC president last November.

Cojuangco has not made any comment on the issue the past week. 

Fernandez was asked if he was willing to sit down and talk with Cojuangco.

“After I file the case then we can talk. Let us file this case first and then we can talk. It would have been different if he called me a game-fixer while I was still playing (in the PBA) because I can let my game do the talking,” said the four-time MVP and 19-time champion in the PBA.

“But I now work for the Office of the President. I just don’t want to argue with him in the media so I will file the case,” he said.