Tiniyak ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman at chef de mission ng Team Philippines sa 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games na si William “Butch” Ramirez na mapagsasabay niya ang dalawa nitong mga tungkulin.
Pahayag ito ni Ramirez matapos kumambiyo sa nauna nitong pahayag na hindi nito tatanggapin ang pagiging pinuno ng delegasyon ng bansa sa naturang multi-sport event.
“It’s really an enormous job and at the same time, I’ll have my 4 commissioners helping me and I have my core group, the executive director, the deputy executive director, the chief of staff, we’ll be working together, myself, Ricky Vargas and Alan Peter Cayetano. I think the signal of Malacañang is to have a truce in preparation of the SEA Games. Kayang, kaya ito,” wika ni Ramirez sa isang press conference sa PSC ngayong araw.
Ayon pa kay Ramirez, tinanggap niya raw ang alok sa kanya para sa pagkakaisa, sa gitna na rin ng gusot sa pagitan ng ilang mga sports officials.
Umaasa rin ito na huhupa na ang hidwaan sa pagitan ng mga paksyon sa POC kasunod ng kanyang pagtanggap sa puwesto.
“I pray that all concerned consider a truce and aim to focus on this commitment which we must undertake as a united sporting community of a strong and focused Philippines.”
Samantala, nagpasalamat naman si Vargas sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang sa suportang ibinigay sa kanila.
“I am most humbled by the statement of the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson announcing that the Palace supports the Philippine Olympic Committee under the leadership of Chairman Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino and yours truly,” ani Vargas.
“I express my sincere appreciation to President Rodrigo R. Duterte for coming to the side of the athletes in their quest for glory in the coming Southeast Asian Games. The President has shown that he will always put the welfare of the athletes above all else. I call on all parties in the POC to draw inspiration from the pronouncement. We can never achieve our goals if we are not one in ensuring the success of the SEA Games.”
