Protest rally for reform in works

Some 300 athletes are set to take to the streets Monday in a call to reform Philippine Sports.

Sources said the rally will start at 9 a.m. on Mendiola and wind up at Rizal Memorial. Athletes will reportedly perform in sports exhibitions to draw attention to their plight.

Among the rally leaders are former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Cristy Ramos, former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) commissioner Tisha Abundo, former Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) secretary-general Graham Lim, former national basketball team manager Dr. Fernando Carrascoso and former weightlifter Jaime Sebastian.

Fr. Robert Reyes, known as "The Running Priest," is expected to participate in the show of force. His office at the University of the Philippines is where meetings are held to plan the demonstration.

The rally is the latest in a series of steps taken by certain sports officials to discredit the POC and PSC. An offshoot was the suspension of the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) because of a leadership dispute.

Before proceeding to Rizal Memorial, rally leaders hope to call on President Arroyo in Malacañang to submit a manifesto seeking the resignation of POC president Celso Dayrit, the POC Executive Council, PSC chairman Carlos Tuason, and the PSC commissioners appointed by former President Estrada.

The manifesto also urges Congress to amend or repeal R. A. 6847 creating the PSC "to prevent abuses by PSC officials and to allow the POC and the National Sports Associations (NSAs) to operate with greater independence and self-reliance." It calls for the formulation of a sound national sports policy "so that a sustainable mass-based sports program can be implemented together with an elite program which will make Philippine sports at par with international standards."

In a strongly-worded rebuke, the manifesto chastises Dayrit, International Olympic Committee (IOC) representative to the Philippines Francisco Elizalde, and Tuason for allegedly "failing in their responsibility and obligation to safeguard the interests of athletes, coaches, and sports officials in accordance to the Olympic philosophy." Dayrit is cited for allegedly "failing to resolve leadership problems within the NSAs because of partiality and favoritism and thus, has encouraged anarchy, disunity, and mediocrity and has demoralized athletes, coaches, and officials."

While government has no right to interfere in POC affairs, it has the authority to hire and fire PSC officials. Tuason’s fate, however, will not be decided until after the Southeast Asian Games in September. — Joaquin Henson