PSC must flex its muscles on Gov’t Funds—Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao. AP

Let’s protect people’s money.

That’s the marching order of Sen. Manny Pacquiao to sports leaders particularly Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chair Butch Ramirez whom he also empowered to stand his ground as the government’s sports czar.

“The PSC must flex its muscles and strongly implement its mandate,” said Pacquiao of the PSC law Republic Act No. 6847 that gives PSC monitoring, supervisory and visitorial power over national sports associations.

It stemmed from yesterday’s Senate hearing on the P27-million unliquidated funds incurred by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) from the PSC during the 2005 hosting of the Southeast Asian Games.

Pacquiao, chair of the Senate committee on sports, told the POC, represented by president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., to “return” the amount.

POC officials, including secretary general Steve Hontiveros said they have already liquidated the amount but the official receipts weren’t accepted by the Commission on Audit.