Philippine Sports Commission chairman Butch Ramirez could be flying to the Rio Olympics after all.
“There’s a directive from Malacañang that I go to Rio and check on the athletes,” said Ramirez yesterday, two days before the Philippine delegation leaves for Brazil via Emirates.
Ramirez had made it clear during his appointment as new chairman of the PSC that he will allow the Philippine Olympic Committee to take charge of the delegation.
“But (the) President (Rodrigo) Duterte has always been known for dropping by the regional games that were held in Davao in the past so I feel that he’d like somebody from government to go to Rio as well,” said Ramirez.
Traditionally, heads of states are accorded the luxury of attending the Olympics and in their absence, their official representative, those holding position of sports ministers, can take their place.