The Philippine Sports Commission yesterday sent out letters to 57 national sports associations and even the Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday demanding that they start settling their financial obligations amounting to P108 million.
PSC chairman Butch Ramirez actually threatened to stop releasing funds for problematic NSAs with a board resolution but was prevailed upon by the board.
“We cannot allow ourselves to be affected by our emotions and we (the PSC board) discussed the NSAs’ situation and gave them time to resolve their issues,” said Ramirez.
If the NSA fail to come up with a reasonable explanation and proposal to pay back the PSC, only then will the PSC decide to stop releasing funds or even bring the case to the Ombudsman.
Of the R108 million, the PSC said that P10 million remains unliquidated up to this day by the POC in a transaction stretching back to the day of Cristy Ramos-Jalasco in the late 1990s.
In a list released by the PSC, wrestling topped the list with an outstanding balance of P9.246 million.
PSC Executive Director Carlo Abarquez, also head of the PSC’s legal divison, noted that the old age excuse of NSA leaders that they only inherited their problems would no longer work.
“The fact that they assumed leadership of an NSA meant that they assumed full responsibility,” said Abarquez.
Ramirez was eager to crack the whip on a few NSAs in an effort to show them that the PSC meant business but had a change of heart.
“We are taking our time,” said Ramirez, admitting though that the Commission on Audit has been pressuring the agency to work on the matter.
Karatedo and gymnastics also figured highly on the long list with unliquidated amounts of P6.173 millon and P6.169 million, respectively.
Other NSAs that have massive obligations include chess (P5.861-million), volleyball (P5.672-M), Philspada (P5.512-M), football (P5.274-M), triathlon (P4.683-M), cycling (P4.626-M) and weight-lifting (P4.395-M).