Leave it to Pacman

Last week, Sen. Manny Pacquiao presided in a four-hour marathon hearing as chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports in the GSIS Building on Macapagal Boulevard and was never ruffled by the fireworks that smoked the Senate hall.

Some of the country’s top sports officials were summoned to appear at the hearing that was prompted by a resolution from Sen. Sonny Angara who called on the Committee “to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the alleged unliquidated funds released to the POC and the unjust imposition of eligibility requirements for the candidates for POC president, thereby limiting the participation of other members.”

The WBO welterweight champion set aside the second item in Angara’s resolution since it’s an issue that’s now being debated in court. Besides, the POC elections were held the Friday before the hearing with incumbent Jose Cojuangco Jr. reelected to serve a fourth four-year term as president. So Pacquiao decided it was more urgent to discuss the other item.

For the record, the Regional Trial Court of Pasig that denied the appeal of the lawyers of disqualified POC candidates Rep. Abraham Tolentino and Ricky Vargas to grant a temporary restraining order on the elections has set a hearing this Friday and the Friday after to determine the definition of “active membership in the General Assembly” as an eligibility requirement to run for office as stated in the POC Constitution and By-Laws. Whatever is resolved by the court will be for future elections so it’s important that the issue is finally decided.

Vargas, who attempted to challenge Cojuangco for the presidency, said the issue of “active membership” is the bone of contention and has not been settled with finality. In a statement, Vargas said despite the setback, “we will continue to champion the rights and values we believe in.” He vowed to remain resolute in his crusade for change and reform in the POC.

* * *

Pacquiao is used to fireworks so the war of words that punctuated the hearing was nothing new. He’s had his share of hooks, crosses and brickbats. So when those in attendance started to throw bombs at each other, Pacquiao wasn’t fazed. He was in control of the situation from start to finish.

For a while, it appeared that the hearing would deteriorate into a gripe session. Pacquiao tolerated the washing of dirty linen up to a point. When he felt it was time to rein in, the storm was called to a calm.

Former athletics chief Go Teng Kok made a rare public appearance to confront Cojuangco with whom he has had a love-hate relationship. They were once allies but are now bitter rivals. Go was even declared persona non grata by the POC. When the discussion touched on the disallowed liquidation of advances for the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in 2005, Go said he knows where the money went. Last August, the Commission on Audit (COA) supervising auditor Joycelyn Ramos issued a memorandum demanding four officers of the 2005 SEA Games Organizing Committee to pay P27.2 Million in disallowed liquidation of advances. The officers included Cojuangco as president of the Organizing Committee. Ramos said the order to pay was final and executory.

It seemed that nobody cared to listen to Go’s aborted disclosure. He never got to expose where the money went and left the hearing without exploding his bombshell. Several senators who showed up also left before the hearing was adjourned to attend to other obligations. Among the senators who took a French leave were Angara, Tito Sotto, Joel Villanueva and Sonny Trillanes.

Cojuangco took the brunt of the verbal attacks. Trillanes badgered him on the Philippines’ dismal performance in the SEA Games. Former Sen. Nikki Coseteng, who leads a breakaway association in swimming, said the country has not benefited from the swimmers under her care because of partiality. ABAP executive director Ed Picson also took Cojuangco to task for interfering in the NSA’s affairs. Bowling’s Guillermo Mallillin fired potshots at Cojuangco who was composed throughout the session.

* * *

Cojuangco’s reply to allegations of misuse of funds is he has been cleared by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales of any wrongdoing. Someone mentioned that despite the clearance, the order to pay the government for disallowed liquidation of advances remains and the liability is not extinguished.

PSC commissioner Ramon Fernandez missed the hearing as he was in Cebu but sent word that if ever there is another session, he’ll attend and actively participate in the discussion. Fernandez recently uncovered that the PSC had released over P130 Million to the POC from 2007 to 2016. He said the releases were not mandated by law.

PSC chairman Butch Ramirez attended the hearing and tried to pacify the opposing factions. Ramirez appealed for sobriety and asked the sports officials to rule with their minds, not their emotions. Pacquiao told Ramirez to exercise his authority in protecting the government’s interest, particularly in running after sports officials who are liable in failing to properly liquidate advances.