Tolentino rues ‘defections’ of top athletes

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Francis Tolentino expressed concern over the departure of some of the country’s finest athletes to play for other countries apparently due to the lack of financial support from the government.

During Monday’s plenary deliberations for the proposed P375 million budget of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Tolentino cited the need for a program to prevent further poaching of local athletes following what he said were the recent “defections” of golfer Yuka Saso and chess grandmaster Wesley So.

“How can we put a stop to this? Is there a program reflective in the budget of PSC to prevent poaching? Is there a Balik Pilipinong Atleta Program?” Tolentino said.