Presidential candidate Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson on Sunday lamented how “sports politics” factored in in pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena’s exclusion from the World Indoor Championships.

“EJ Obiena: a case of missed opportunity because of sports politics. Sayang (what a waste)," Lacson said on his Twitter account Sunday.

Lacson said he finds the non-endorsement by the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA), with which Obiena has a rift, “unacceptable” and described it a “an ugly self-inflicted loss.”

“Unacceptable! We just threw away a golden opportunity to showcase our world-class talent - all because we cannot get our acts together,” Lacson further said.

“I am sure we Filipinos can accept losing in a fair competition. What we cannot accept is being denied the opportunity to compete in the first place,” he added.

Lacson said he believes it is time that the Philippine sports authorities come up with a mechanism to make national sports associations (NSAs) like the PATAFA accountable and answerable for failing to develop homegrown talents.

"So much taxpayers' money goes to our sports bodies to do one job: make sure we develop our athletes and give them the opportunity to represent us especially in international competitions,” Lacson pointed out.

“Clearly something went wrong in EJ's case and we Filipinos are sadly paying the price,” he noted.

The senator likened the plight of Obiena to local homegrown scientists who go abroad and thrive there because they did not get the much-needed support at home.

"We have so many homegrown talents, whether they be in science and technology or sports. But we simply don't maximize their talents and instead allow them to go abroad,” he said.

“When they succeed there, we can only feel regret for not supporting them earlier,” Lacson added.