Even though he is busily attending to the more pressing national issues, presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte is not turning a blind eye on sports, a close ally of the Davao City mayor said yesterday.
“We’ve discussed sports with him but as of now, he is still dealing with other matters,” former North Cotabato Gov. Manny Pinol said when asked about Duterte’s plans for sports.
Pinol, a former Tempo editor, TV boxing analyst and later boxing promoter, said former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William ‘Butch’ Ramirez, who played a pivotal role during Duterte’s campaign, might be asked to head back to Manila.
“If the President asks you to serve, I don’t see any reason why you won’t heed his call,” said Pinol.
Ramirez has been quoted by the Davao media that he’d rather stay in Mindanao so he can be with his family.
Ramirez, an educator and presently the Davao City Sports Development head, served as PSC chairman from 2004 until early-2009 and might be recalled to man the PSC once more when Duterte decides to replace the present occupants at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.