THE Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) bared on Monday that it has yet to receive an official response from Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) on its mediation effort that seeks to help solve one of the most horrible controversies that struck Philippine sports.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) also said on Monday that its Ethics Committee will look into the row with “utmost concern and collating pertinent information from both Patafa and EJ Obiena to ensure due process.”
“The committee has been tirelessly working with our legal team to resolve the issue at the soonest possible time,” POC Ethics Committee chair Patrick Gregorio of rowing said. “We do not want shortcuts here. What we want is to shed light on the matter and ensure that truth prevails.”
The PSC said in a statement that it has sent Obiena and the Patafa documents on the mediation submission agreement last Thursday.
“The PSC Board has been waiting for Patafa and EJ Obiena to return the said agreement with their respective signatures,” the statement said. “The board expressed concern over the delay knowing the urgency for the mediation process to begin for the issue to be resolved.”
The statement added that the dispute has caught the attention of the international sports community and the misimpression is putting Philippine sports in a bad light.
“As an elder of the Philippine sports community, I am asking them to submit to mediation for their mutual benefit,” said PSC Chairman William Ramirez, adding he is “duty-bound to explore ways to help resolve the issue.”
The Patafa has earlier obliged Obiena to answer what was initially alleged non-payment of the Asian record holder’s Ukranian coach Vitaly Petrov’s salaries since 2018. Obiena and Petrov went online to belie the claim of the federation, which has shifted its focus on the manner by which Obiena made liquidation reports on the coach’s salaries.
“Again, my role is to facilitate communication between the parties, not to decide who is right or wrong,” Ramirez said. “Mediation is the best option for now so the parties can reconcile, open communication lines, and continue the work that needs to be done.”
Ramirez added: “The parties owe it to the government and the Filipino people to resolve the issues amicably. A failed mediation will be detrimental to both parties.”
In a special board meeting on Monday, the PSC board set a December 15 deadline for Obiena and Patafa to submit themselves to mediation.
Gregorio’s committee includes Gerry Alquiros of bridge and Ernesto Echauz of sailing, while the POC legal team is headed by Atty. Wharton Chan of kickboxing.
He said that the committee has also already communicated with Obiena and the Patafa but withheld details on the POC’s message to both parties.
“It will be an ongoing process and we want to solve this the soonest,” Gregorio said.