How would you rate the performance of the Philippines in the 26th SEAG?
This is the worst finish for our country. It speaks of the pathetic state of Philippine sports in general.
Ano sa tingin ninyo ang dahilan bakit 36 gold medals lang ang ating nakuha?
Unang-una, wala tayong coherent national sports program. That is very telling. It’s as if we’re just going through the motion. Kaya nga ako, bilang chairman on the committee on sports, tinitingnan namin kung anong structural changes that we can institute.
So, pinag-aralan namin ang PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) Law. Doon namin nakita na ‘yung PSC Law was crafted in a way that it’s actually the POC who will run the show. Ang problema rito, the POC (Philippine Olympic Committee) is a private organization. Hindi accountable ang POC sa government.
Walang accountability. Kailangang i-excise ‘yung role ng POC sa PSC. Dapat ‘yung PSC can stand on its own. Until that happens, Philippine sports will be dictated by one man — (POC president) Peping Cojuangco. Kung nasa kangkungan tayo ngayon, dinala tayo roon ni Peping Cojuangco.
Magpapatawag po ba kayo ng Senate hearing on this?
Actually, ika-clarify ko ‘yun. Meron kaming pending Senate hearing on a bill creating a new sports body. We had our first meeting last month. We were scheduled to have another meeting first week of December. But due to scheduling constraints, we moved it to first week of January. So it’s about that. Walang investigation, per se. It’s all about the sports body.
Ano po ang naging problema bakit hindi kayo kinikilala ng POC bilang presidente ng Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (TATAP)?
Hindi ko problema ‘yun. I will still perform my duty as TATAP president, with or without the recognition of POC. Tingnan mo ‘yang ginawa ni Peping. It shows how whimsical ‘yung kanyang paraan. Pag di ka niya kursunada o tingin niya sa iyo isang threat, he will not recognize you. Ang sa akin, I was voted based on the constitution and by-laws of TATAP. Sinabi ko ‘yan before.
I won’t enter into the picture unless mabigyan ninyo ako ng mandate among the stakeholders of TATAP. So, they followed the rules. I was elected. Anong ginawa nitong POC? Nakita nila na I will not play along with their scheming ways, hindi ako ni-recognize. Hindi puwede sa akin na sabihin ng POC na ‘Ayaw ko si Trillanes. Kukuha ako ng isang tambay dyan na uupo, ‘wag lang si Trillanes.’ I don’t care kung POC president ka. Ako, I have a plan for TATAP. With or without you, TATAP will survive.
Pero di po ba magkaka-problema ang mga players ng TATAP sa international competition without POC recognition?
TATAP is a fully recognized NSA (national sports association) by the PSC. Ako lang ang di recognized ng POC. I can survive even without Peping’s approval. He’s insignificant in my life anyway. Focus lang ako sa TATAP and what I can do for the sport.
Are you willing to go up against Peping Cojuangco in the next POC election?
That’s what he’s afraid of. Kasi the moment he recognizes me, I will be eligible to run against him. Pero sa akin, sports is just an advocacy that I have. Medyo mas encompassing ‘yung advocacy ko as a senator of the republic.
Pero it does not mean na pababayaan ko ‘yan. Ang sa akin, sige, tingnan natin kung sino sa palagay ninyo ang puwede. Alam naman nila kung sino ang mahusay. Kahit kayong taga-media, alam ninyo kung sino ang mahusay. Peping is so unpopular right now. Kung ano si GMA sa politics, ganun si Peping sa sports. Kung si GMA, nilabanan ko, siya pa?
Sino sa tingin ninyo ang karapatdapat na mamuno sa Philippine sports?
Sa akin kahit sino. Let’s give them a fresh start. ‘Yung present PSC people, puwede. Let’s give them a fresh start. Let’s give them the mandate and resources. It’s up to them to show us that they deserve to be in the sports body.
Let’s take it from there. Nakausap ko na ang mga PSC commissioners. Magaganda naman ang plano nila. Kaso, their hands are tied to the POC. Di sila makapalag dahil they were appointed by Peping.
What do you think of the trend of importing Fil-foreign athletes to strengthen our teams?
Trabahong tamad ‘yan eh. Ayaw nilang i-develop (ang athletes) dito sa atin. These people are actually, most of them and not all, are here for the international experience which they cannot gain in their places.
They come here to jack up their credentials. At mahal. Kaya hindi sustainable ‘yan. Kung gusto nilang sustainable program, simulan mo sa baba, sa grassroots.