INQUIRER Sports

THE PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION, which is funding 200 of the 379-member national contingent to the Laos Southeast Asian Games, will not be represented in any way in the biennial event slated Dec. 9 to 18.

And PSC chair Harry Angping said he is no longer interested in joining the delegation after the Philippine Olympic Committee left no slot for the government sports agency in the official RP lineup submitted to the organizers of the 11-nation meet.

?It seems we?re not welcome,? said Angping. ?And since we?re not invited, we will not send any PSC official to the Games.?Our presence is secondary. They can get all the credit as long as we win those medals.?

Only the POC issues accreditation for athletes, officials and the media who will cover the games scheduled in Vientianne.

Despite the PSC?s non-inclusion in the master list, Angping said the uniforms, luggage and allowances of the PSC-approved athletes (153) and officials (47) will be distributed before their departure.

Angping said the POC?s last-minute appeal for the PSC to fund the additional 95 athletes and 84 officials was expected.

?They?ve been playing the same game every two years and trying to hold the PSC hostage,? said Angping. ?They will throw everything at the PSC and hold us accountable if the national team doesn?t succeed.?

?But in fairness to the president of the POC (Jose ?Peping? Cojuangco Jr.), I believe he has nothing to do with the final list because it was prepared by his subordinates,? Angping said.

In the last SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, then PSC chair Butch Ramirez stayed with the Filipinos in the Athletes? Village while the top POC officials stayed in hotels.