THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) on Tuesday expressed deep regret over Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s predicament in his own federation and vowed to conduct an investigation on the flaming issue that has put the Olympian pole vaulter in an ugly situation.
“We are in deepest regret to realize that one of our Olympians, multi-medalist and great inspiration Ernest John Obiena of athletics, to be involved in this squabble with his home federation,” POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.
Tolentino said Obiena’s declaration to retire at this stage of his globally budding career would be a great loss for Philippine Sports.
“I am very disappointed. They could have handled the situation internally absent of any misfires from both parties,” Tolentino said. “A bountiful career is now in peril.”
Obiena, together with his legendary Ukranian coach Vitaly Petrov, sought a retraction and public apology from the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) after the federation stated that Obiena falsified liquidation documents on his coach’s salaries and that he be made to answer the accusation.
Obiena, 25, competed in the Tokyo Olympics and holds the Asian record in the sport. He is now ranked No. 5 in the world.
“Needless to say, we, Filipinos, will be deprived of two gold medals in the Vietnam Southeast Asian Games in 2022 and in Cambodia 2023, not to mention another one in the Asian Games also next year and most importantly, a representation in the Paris Olympics come 2024, due to the fiasco in the leadership of his organization,” Tolentino stressed.
“We could have easily propagated this achievement to the youth by proper guidance and genuine attitude,” he said.
The Obiena-Patafa mess didn’t escape the Senate’s attention and late Monday evening, senators recalled the 2023 budget of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) after expressing dismay over the agency’s apparent hands-off stance from the controversial rift.
“Since the PSC is the source of funds, it could have easily—under its mandate—intervened and corrected the same from the very beginning,” Tolentino said. Tolentino added: “But we in the POC will be steadfast and for the sake of Olympism and impartiality, will go into the details and investigate the matter.”
The POC’s Ethics Committee will investigate the controversy.
The sports body’s statement was read in the Senate on Tuesday by Senator Francis “Tol” Tolentino.
The Patafa, meanwhile, created an independent administrative committee whose sole purpose is to investigate and to come up with a report covering the matters stated under its memorandum to explain that was sent via courier and e-mail to Obiena last November 15.
A Patafa inquiry showed Petrov didn’t receive his salaries when the association received an authenticated affidavit from Sergey Bubka and a written statement from Petrov stating that he “did not receive any monthly coach’s fees for the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
A Patafa statement said its administrative committee is presently conducting a thorough and in-depth investigation covering the issue and will release as soon as practicable its findings and recommendations.