To reduce the conflict between the leaders of PCKF and the national dragon boat teams as a simple case of athletes wanting to go to the Southeast Asian Games is to miss the entire point. Truth of the matter is, corruption in sports is the issue. Below is the letter that was sent to a senator by the Philippine paddlers and their coaches.
Dear Senator:
We, the coaches and athletes of the National Dragon Boat Team, humbly request for intervention from your good office regarding our current situation with our umbrella organization, the Philippine Canoe and Kayak Federation (PCKF).
On July 12, 2013, we wrote a letter addressed to both the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) requesting for an investigation of two (2) of the officials of PCKF Acting President Ms. Jonne Go and Head Coach Ms. Leonora Escollante on allegations of unethical conduct and questionable disbursement of funds.
The immediate action taken by Ms. Go is to unduly terminate the twenty-five (25) athletes and three (3) coaches, representing 95% of the National Pool, who filed the complaint. Consequently, we were put on floating status pending the resolution of the complaint. Likewise, we have been verbally informed by POC that all trainings have to be discontinued and were denied access to the dragon boats situated at the CCP’s dock site. Worse, our South East Asian Games (SEA Games) berth has been revoked and our allowances and benefits, from which we derive our meager income, were put on hold pending the final determination of the case by the POC Arbitration Committee.
Thus, we appeal for your intervention and assistance regarding our case before the said Arbitration Committee. We have already sent letters to the Philippine Sports Commission and the Arbitration Committee of the POC requesting for provisional reliefs and immediate disposition of the case based on humanitarian and compassionate grounds but our request fell on deaf ears.
The POC and PCKF may have the right and power to determine its organization and membership.However, we feel that it is unjust for us to be stripped of our basic benefits and our well-deserved opportunity to represent the country in the SEA Games, just because we chose to bring to light the anomalies that we have experienced at the hands of our officials – the supposed stewards of our Sport.
We followed strict protocol, stretched our forbearance and good faith in our sports governing bodies, even as three (3) months have passed without rendering a proper investigation and resolution. We appeal to you and the government for relief in our trying situation.
Please find attached Complainant’s Rejoinder detailing the case. Upon your instruction, we will also send your office the originating Petition and Position Paper, Answers of the Respondents and other Letters that we sent to POC and PSC.
Thank you in advance for your attention in this matter.
Respectfully yours,
MANUEL F. MAYA ARNOLD P. LAURENO
Men's Team Head Coach Women's Team Head Coach
There should be immediate action to reverse this termination of the paddlers and the coaches. In the name of keeping sport corruption free a whistleblower must be protected from this type of retaliation. Certainly if, after investigation, the allegations prove to meritless those filing the complaint are aware it may cause negative consequences. To strip them of their right to compete before there is an investigation violates the ethics of sport and if allowed to stand will result in other athletes fearing to report possible corruption.
ReplyDeleteThe action of the PCKF strongly suggests that their authority over dragon boat should be ended and placed back under the control of the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation.
Well said, McMamara. However, whether the control of Dragon Boat remains under the PCKF is not the issue at hand. Acts of injustice, like termination without due process, are the problem. It is the system and the officials that allow things like this to happen that are in need of an overhaul. That it happened to such an accomplished team, the Philippine Dragon Boat Team, clearly shows that it had happened before and can and will happen again and again until something is done with PCKF governance and the governance of Philippine Sports in general.
ReplyDeleteWell said, McMamara. However, whether the control of Dragon Boat remains under the PCKF is not the issue at hand. Acts of injustice, like termination without due process, are the problem. It is the system and the officials that allow things like this to happen that are in need of an overhaul. That it happened to such an accomplished team, the Philippine Dragon Boat Team, clearly shows that it had happened before and can and will happen again and again until something is done with PCKF governance and the governance of Philippine Sports in general.
ReplyDeleteTo Mr. Mcnamara PCKF National Dragon Boat Team wishes to express our sincerest thanks for your support!
ReplyDeleteThe ex national team should tell the WHOLE story as to how this mess started.
ReplyDelete