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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Obiena gets 'closure' after PSC, COA clear liquidation issue

Obiena gets 'closure' after PSC, COA clear liquidation issue

Published Apr 16, 2022 07:57 am

Filipino elite pole vaulter EJ Obiena heaved a sigh of relief after he was cleared of his liquidation issues by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) through the Commission on Audit (COA).

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Obiena posted a copy of the Credit Notice from COA dated March 31, 2022 on Facebook Friday, April 15 highlighting that his training funds used totaling P12,324,114.40 were "in order and that we have not issued any Notice of Suspension nor Notice of Disallowance" which was signed by Audit Team Leader Jeorge Roman G. Lozano and noted by Supervising Auditor Salvacio D. De Los Angeles.

For the Tokyo Olympic pole vaulter, this was the closure he needed to finally settle once and for all the rift between him and his association Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA).

"We now have closure. I would like to be back and focus on training and competing for the country with my teammates in PATAFA and its officials," the 26-year-old Obiena.

Moving forward, the No. 5 world pole vaulter has set sights on the upcoming 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam with "100 percent focus" next month.

He is the reigning SEA Games champion after bagging his first gold medal in the 2019 biennial meet here in the Philippines.

After reaching an agreement in the fifth and final mediation proceedings last March 30, the Patafa had agreed to endorse Obiena both in the SEA Games and the World Outdoor Athletics in Oregon, United States in July.

Obiena's endorsement for future competitions “will be subject to the usual rules and regulations of the PATAFA, as observed for the participation of all national athletes.”

Both parties began their rift last October when the Patafa had accused Obiena of allegedly misusing government funds for his training and also intended for Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov.

One thing led to another as Patafa president Philip Ella Juico was declared "persona non grata" by the Philippine Olympic Committee, but the decision, as well as the supposed 90-day suspension, was already lifted after the mediation.

Related Tags

Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association COA EJ Obiena Commission on Audit Patafa
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