FINAL LETTER OF APPEAL TO FIVB MEMBERS

Dear National Federation President,

Greetings once again from the Philippines.

I initially wanted to answer Mr. Fabio Azevedo’s response to my first letter of appeal to you. But I do not want to burden you anymore with yet another long and tedious argument and to belabor the facts and issues involved. Instead, I wish to prove that Philippine Olympic President (POC) Jose Cojuangco Jr. did not tell the complete truth to FIVB. It is the only way to put a stop to, once and for all, all the arguments and justifications that FIVB is using in connection with its withdrawal of recognition from Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF).

In his letter to FIVB dated January 20, 2015, POC President Cojuangco stated that PVF “ has not served the best interest of Philippine volleyball for years “ as manifested by “ by being a non-participant in the Southeast Asian Games from 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 and a great number of tournaments. “ As a result, PVF lost its status as a national federation with the POC. And the POC president endorsed Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas Inc. (LVPI) as the new national federation for volleyball prompting FIVB to recognize LVPI as the new national federation thereafter.

But I wish to call your attention to the attachments to this letter that contain the letters of intent and official line-ups of the PVF teams from 2007-2011 that were submitted to PSC by PVF precisely for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG). The 12 pages of attachments are solid proof of PVF’S intention and desire to participate in SEAG from 2007-2011.  These attachments reveal that PVF was not remiss in its duty of forming national teams and discovering national athletes. Moreover, the attachments reveal that PVF ensured that the Philippines would be represented in SEAG. That PVF took the time and effort to prepare teams for the SEAG in all the years that the POC president mentioned. All these can hardly qualify as “ not serving the best interest of Philippine volleyball for years .” In 2013, PVF even intended to join the 17th Asian Women’s Senior Championship in Thailand as seen from one of the attachments.

Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the highest sports authority in the Philippines, likewise issued moments ago a certification that contains the following points :

1. That PVF was tasked to form national indoor and beach volleyball teams since 2007.

2. That PSC provided financial assistance to PVF for the 2007, 2009, 2011 editions of SEAG.

3. That the sole function/authority to send athletes/teams to IOC sanctioned events in the Philippines belongs to POC.

The certification was signed by PSC Executive Director Carlo E. Abarquez and is dated October 3, 2016. Kindly refer to one of the attachments for reference.

According to the POC Constitution Article III b,  it is POC that shall be the sole authority for the representation of the Philippines at the Olympic Games, Asian Games, Southeast Asian Games as well as other events held under the patronage of IOC and OCA and to undertake the organization of these Games when they are held in the Philippines. The term "representation" covers the decision to participate and the entry of athletes selected by their respective National Sports Association (NSA's). The PSC certification raises this point as well. Thus, the non-participation of PVF volleyball teams in SEAG is the work of POC itself. It is POC that refused to send the PVF teams to the SEAG. POC did not give PVF teams its approval to participate in SEAG despite their availability, willingness and readiness to participate. What is only being observed is the apparent non-participation of PVF teams without taking into account why there is non-participation. POC refused to send PVF teams to SEAG for reasons that only POC knows. The blame for the non-participation of PVF teams to SEAG must be put squarely on the shoulders of POC.

In view of these latest revelations, I fervently hope that you see the need not to expel PVF from FIVB and to allow PVF to have a hearing at the Judicial Panel. FIVB committed a serious mistake in completely believing the statement of Cojuangco and aggravated that mistake when it decided to use Cojuangco’s misleading statement as basis for action.

It is now up to you to correct that mistake by voting no to the expulsion of PVF from FIVB and allowing PVF to present its case in a proper forum. That is the only way that justice can be served to PVF and the Filipino people in general.

Thank you.

Yours,

Eric F. Dimzon

Sports Journalist