Sotto to PATAFA: Leave EJ Obiena alone

Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III on Thursday, January 6 said sports associations should leave Olympian EJ Obiena alone to allow him to concentrate on his training instead of being sidetracked by threatened law suits for alleged misuse of funds.

“Leave EJ alone. Allow him to focus on his tournaments,” Sotto, himself a former national athlete who represented the country on international bowling competitions, said.

Sotto said he was a national athlete too and he feels the frustration that the Philippine pole vaulter is feeling now.

‘ ’It’s hard to train in another country without your family and the culture that you are used to. Our athletes represent the country in a different level. They should be getting our support and not being attacked by sports associations,” he pointed out.

Sotto said the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) should have settled its differences with Obiena privately and not announced its gripes to the media.

“The issue was handled unprofessionally. What was PATAFA thinking when it attacked our athlete? All persons involved in this mess should meet privately and resolve their issues without the glare of cameras,” Sotto said.

Senator Pia Cayetano, a sportswoman, said she is ‘’beyond disgusted with the latest actions and statements of PATAFA’s Philip Juico who is single-handedly killing the spirit of Filipino athletes.

Despite the underhanded treatment EJ received from PATAFA, even after rendering a full accounting of his training funds and his coach’s confirmation acknowledging receipt of his full payment, it must be noted that EJ himself has said that he was willing to join the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) mediation process after the POC has concluded its own investigation, she stressed.

‘’What should have been a feel good movie with EJ ending the year as the top Asian pole vaulter and ranked #3 in the world, has turned into a horror movie where a vindictive Juico is attacking and attacking EJ,’’ she added.

Cayetano said she expected the PSC to step up and put an end to all this now.