Presidential aspirant Sen. Manny Pacquiao has thanked the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) for its swift and judicious action over the raging controversy involving the national athletics federation and national pole vaulter EJ Obiena.
Pacquiao said the decision of the POC under its Chairman Cavite Rep. Abraham Tolentino to disavow Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) president Philip Ella Juico and declare him persona non grata “is a great morale booster for athletes like Obiena, who worked really hard to bring pride and honor for the country.”
“This decision of POC is a vindication from this useless and senseless politicking among our sporting officials. Thank you POC President Abraham Tolentino for taking immediate action on behalf of our athletes,” he said.
The world’s only eight-division boxing champion said the POC’s action has reassured Obiena and all other Filipino athletes that they have the support of the Filipino people.
He added that the decision should also free Obiena from the mental torture that he had been going through and can now focus on his training to become the world’s top pole vaulter.
Pacquiao said this “clear censure” by the POC on Juico should remind sporting officials to act solely to uplift our athletes and not to torment them.
