ITO BA ANG SINASABING DIREKTIBA NI POC PRESIDENT PEPING COJUANGCO ?

Biglang napunta sa PCKF ang Philippine Dragon Boat Team dahil sa direktibang natanggap diumano ni POC President Peping Cojuangco. Subalit tatlong taon na ang nakalipas, hindi masa-publiko ni Cojuangco o ni PSC Chairman Garcia ang nasabing direktiba. Sumakabilang buhay na si PDBF Coach Nestor Ilagan, subalit ni anino ng direktiba ay di lumalabas. Sa aking pagsasaliksik, ito lamang ang aking nahagilap - isang email mula sa IOC.

Maliwanag na ang nasabing email mula sa IOC ay hindi direktiba. Bagkus, ito ay isang mungkahi lamang. Nakakapagtaka na sinabi ni Cojuangco na isang direktiba ang kanilang natanggap. Kapansin-pansin rin na hindi ang PCKF kundi ang POC ang nagtanong tungkol sa estado ng dragon boat. Pati ang presidente ng swimming association ay nakisawsaw rin. Subalit ni minsan ay hindi nakipagugnayan ang presidente mismo ng canoe-kayak sa IOC tungkol sa dragon boat sa Pilipinas.

Sa gulong nangyayari sa Philippine Dragon Boat team sa ilalim ng PCKF, marahil tama lang na makialam na ang International Canoe Federation at International Olympic Committee. Marapat na sigurong masuspindi na ang Pilipinas sa Olympics para umusbong ang isang malaking pagbabago sa larangan ng palakasan ng bansa.

ICF RESPONSE TO PHILIPPINE DRAGON BOAT TEAM CRISIS

Dear Eric,

We passed this issue on to Mr Narita as Continental President.  The ICF is greatly concerned about what has happened in your country with Dragonboat.  Our rules only us to intervene where a member is having issues with ICF, its not possible for us to interfere in internal issues. However, we have made this known to the Olympic Committee and will do so again after your letter as we want to see your dragonboat team at competitions.

Best regards,

Simon TOULSON

Secretary General

International Canoe Federation (ICF)

Always moving forward

http://www.canoeicf.com

Phone: +41 (0)21 612 0290

Fax: +41 (0)21 612 0291

OPEN LETTER TO ICF

Dear Mr. Lopez,

Greetings.

I am sure that you know by now what happened to the Philippine Dragon Boat Team. The team, which won 6 gold medals in your world championship in Italy, was unjustly disbanded by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Canoe-Kayak Federation led by its president Jonne Go and head coach Len Escollante. The team was disbanded after hurling corruption charges against Go and Escollante.

No less than the Commission on Audit came up with a report saying that PCKF has unliquidated cash advances amounting to Php 783,200.00. The report substantiates the charges of the dismissed team about the mishandling of public funds by PCKF officials.

What I find totally shocking and utterly unacceptable is ICF's refusal to help the dismissed Philippine Dragon Boat Team. The team asked for ICF's help in resolving the crisis but to this day, ICF has not extended any assistance to the team. It is deplorable that after insisting that ICF must be the governing body of dragon boat as a sport and instructing our sports leaders to place the team under PCKF, you turn a blind eye on a scandal such as this.

ICF's inaction on the scandal is so irresponsible and shows lack of an iota of concern for a world champion team like the Philippine Dragon Boat Team.

Yours,

Eric F. Dimzon