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'Waste of taxpayers' money': House leader calls for defunding of PATAFA

Philippines | National

'Waste of taxpayers' money': House leader calls for defunding of PATAFA

By Seth Cabanban

Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Jericho Nograles is prodding the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) to defund the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

EJ Obiena's photo captioned “Today the Country I Love Loses” (Photo from EJ Obiena - Ernest Obiena FB page)

This, after PATAFA did not endorse top-ranked pole vaulter EJ Obiena for the World Athletics Indoor Championships (WAIC) slated to take place from March 18 to 20.

“This action of PATAFA only shows that its existence is not for the best interest of Philippine sports. The PSC should stop funding PATAFA and direct all support to individual athletes. PATAFA has lost all the moral right to represent the Philippines as an NSA (National Sports Association) because of its action against Obiena. We are just wasting taxpayers’ money on PATAFA,” Nograles said in a press statement on Monday, March 14.

He said his call to defund the PATAFA extends to other government institutions including the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PSCO).

He further added that the PSC and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) should appeal Obiena’s case to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and the Asian Athletics Association (AAA).

“Go straight to the athletes, and stop funding PATAFA,” said Nograles, who is a vice chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports Development.

Nograles is one of several lawmakers who have questioned the PATAFA for their actions against star pole vaulter Obiena.

Read more here:

https://mb.com.ph/2021/11/24/senators-want-pscs-budget-for-patafa-removed-if-harassment-vs-ej-obiena-persists/

Related Tags

31422 puwersa ng bayaning atleta Philip Juico EJ Obiena Patafa

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