INQUIRER Sports

PHILIPPINE SPORTS COMMISSION chair Harry Angping dismissed a protest rally by athletes and officials at the PSC offices as the handiwork of supposed ?saviors? of sports.

?These protests happen while the PSC is trying its best to improve the working conditions and welfare of athletes and coaches,? said Angping in a text message to the Inquirer from China.

?We have in our midst people who clothe themselves as ?saviors? of sports. They use innocent people and paid rallyists to demand unreasonable things. It?s very sad.?

The protest rally was staged hours after the Wrestling Association of the Philippines (WAP) filed graft charges before the Ombudsman against Angping in connection with the country?s hosting of the Asian Junior wrestling championship last July.

The complaint said Angping should be held liable for grave coercion, malversation of public funds and graft for providing substandard services to athletes and guests, as well as for demanding to collect the tournament fees paid to the WAP by foreign teams.

?How can they charge me of malversation of funds?? said Angping, reacting to the graft charge.

?Do they have a copy of all disbursements in PSC? It should be the auditor who should charge me, if any. I should be the one to sue WAP because they owe the PSC big time.?

Led by WAP president Albert Balde, the protesters demanded the ouster of the PSC top honcho.

Also seen during the rally were Mario Tanchangco, the country?s chef de mission to the 25th Southeast Asian Games, and athletics? head Go Teng Kok.