Garcia says Pinoy athletes not involved in game-fixing

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richie Garcia is confident that the Filipino athletes will not take money or bribery in any form in exchange for the gold medal in any competition – local or international.

“Our athletes will not do such a thing. That’s not a good thing to do,” said Garcia yesterday after a ranking sports official was quoted as saying a Filipino athlete once faced such an offer in the Southeast Asian Games.

The sports official did not identify the athlete or the sport or when it exactly happen but sounded certain that the offer was turned down.

He said the athlete who was vying for the gold medal was allegedly offered money equivalent or bigger than the cash incentive that comes from the Philippine government.

The source did not elaborate.

Garcia said he could not confirm nor deny the incident.

“I’m not going to deny or accept (the fact) that it happened. But I heard that also before. And saying na ganoon nga ang nangyari, I hope it’s not going to happen again,” said Garcia.

“But it could have happened before which is sad in the spirit of sportsmanship,” he added.

The PSC chairman hoped that the issue would be put aside because it may have an effect on the Filipino athletes.

“Let us not dwell on that because the athletes might be insulted na parang binebenta nila ang laro nila (that they are allegedly selling their games),” said Garcia.

“I cannot say if it happened or not but right now let’s consider it a rumor,” he added.

Garcia, however, said that is proven true, the incident should not be taken for granted, and that the PSC will have to seriously look into it.

“It could be a rumor. But if there is truth I hope it can be proven then the guilty party will have to answer to that. I hope that’s not true,” he said.