INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines—Aside from security concerns, the Philippine Sports Commission wants to formulate a set of ironclad rules on discipline among national sports associations in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of muay thai chief Robert Valdez.

PSC chair Harry Angping said the PSC will schedule a dialogue with the Philippine Olympic Committee and its member NSAs on the “house-cleaning” that should be done within the ranks of the Olympic family.

“Stricter guidelines on discipline and respect for authority should be instilled on the coaches, athletes and even leaders of the NSAs,” said Angping.

Police reports show that Valdez, president of the Muay Association of the Philippines, was gunned down reportedly by former muay coach and Southeast Asian Games medalist Sonny Sumales inside his office at the PhilSports compound in Pasig City on Saturday.
Witnesses said Valdez and Sumales were heard arguing when three gunshots rang out of the complex.

A member of the Philippine Army, Sumales reportedly got irked when Valdez chided him to stop harassing a female member of the RP team, Kristina Custodio.

The 40-year-old Valdez was immediately brought to Medical City where he died from shots to his body, lower armpit and left shoulder.

“It should serve as a wakeup call,” said Angping. “It’s not yet too late, we still have time to instill discipline among all NSA leaders and their coaches and athletes.”

“That kind of tragedy will never happen again if coaches and athletes are more disciplined,” said Angping, who was among the first to rush to the scene of the crime.

As an added precautionary measure, Angping said he would issue a memorandum forbidding the entry of firearms inside the PSC-owned compound and other PSC training facilities.