Protest rally vs PSC fizzles out?

Now you see them, now you don’t.

This seems to be what’s happening to the members of the Athletes and Coaches Alliance of the Philippines (ACAP) who, for the past five days, have vainly tried to keep their "vigil" going inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The athletes and coaches under the ACAP launched the protest action last Thursday in the hope of drawing the attention of President Arroyo regarding their demand for an immediate, total revamp within the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

It was supposed to be a constant, round-the-clock "vigil" as planned by ACAP leaders, and that the protesters were to remain at the parking lot fronting the PSC main building until chairman Carlos Tuason and his four commissioners are removed from office.

But things aren’t turning out that way.

In fact, not a single ACAP member had spent the night in their open-air encampment since Thursday, retreating to their respective quarters inside the RMSC to doze off before returning the following day.

They even took a break last Saturday and Sunday for the simple reason that those are non-working days at the PSC, being a government agency. But they vowed to return in "full force" for Monday morning’s flag-raising ceremony.

And so, they did.

Numbering at least 50, the ACAP members reoccupied their camp until noon. They broke up after having lunch at the PSC canteen. Their meal, consisting of fried chicken, pancit and rice, and priced at P70 per head, was "charged to Go Teng Kok," according to a canteen employee. Go is the athletics chief.

By mid-afternoon, there were only five female shooters, including Jasmine Luis and Johanna Ruiz, left along with former PSC Chairman Aparicio Mequi. By 5 p.m., the parking lot was empty although those last to leave said they’d be back this morning.

"They have already made their point and I think they should give the courtesy and allow the President to decide on the PSC. A fter all, the PSC is under the Office of the President and the PSC is accountable to the President," said POC chief Celso Dayrit yesterday.

"The athletes and coaches protesting at the RMSC should already go back to training and wait for GMA’s judgment on this," he added.