Hindi tinanggap ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William Ramirez ang pagkakatalaga sa kanya bilang chef de mission ng Team Philippines sa darating na 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Sa isang pahayag, sinabi ni Ramirez na inalok daw sa kanya ni Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino ang nasabing puwesto makaraang sibakin ni POC president Ricky Vargas si Monsour Del Rosario.
“Yesterday, I got a call from Cong. Bambol Tolentino, who on behalf of the Philippine Olympic Committee as its Chairman, very kindly offered me the Chef de Mission tasks for Team Philippines’ 2019 Southeast Asian Games participation.
“After some moment of introspection, and to finally put to rest all speculations, I now issue this statement to humbly and officially decline the offer. Thank you very much for considering this humble servant,†wika ni Ramirez.
Nanawagan din si Ramirez ng pagkakaisa sa lahat ng mga sports officials ng bansa matapos ang naganap na general assembly meeting nitong Lunes kung saan pinagtatanggal ni Vargas ang mga committee head sa mga importanteng posisyon gaya nina dating president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco, first vice president Joey Romasanta, and Robert Bachmann.
“Today, we wake up to a Philippine sports world in shambles. After the tumultuous event in the yard of our POC partners, we all find ourselves at a crossroads in our journey. I believe that unity is vital in any endeavor. More so in this ideal, that we all undertake in our own capacities – to push Philippine sports to its highest possibilities,†ani Ramirez.
“In our work in the grassroots partnerships, one of our major mandates, our stakeholders in the Department of Education, Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Interior and Local Government, showed us how they all long for unity and peace, in sports and our country. As sports leaders and adults, it is our duty to show our youth that national interest always places ahead of our personal interests,†dagdag nito.
Giit ni Ramirez, patuloy pa rin ang kanyang pagtulong sa pag-host ng bansa ng 2019 SEA Games kahit hindi siya ang umupong chef de mission.
Bukas din umano si Ramirez na pangunahan ang isang dialogue sa pagitan ng magkaibang paksyon sa loob ng POC.
“As the Chairman of the PSC, I call upon all our sports leaders to step back and take a moment to consider peaceful interactions. I still believe that we can all sit down and civilly thresh out what needs to be straightened out. The PSC is open to host a dialogue between parties and provide neutral ground for everyone to air their side and ultimately to either sacrifice or step-up in the interest of a unified sporting community.
“We are hosting what we our working very hard on to be the biggest SEAG edition, we are making every possible effort to make 2020 a memorable year with the country’s first Olympic gold and we are running on the fuel of our dreams to finally have infrastructure and facilities that will show the levelled-up fervor of our country in strengthening the foothold of sports. We have our plates full and it is at this time, more than ever, that we need everyone moving in the same direction.
“The PSC Board will be diligently observing and will not be shy to take drastic measures, in the midst of these developments,†anang opisyal.
