Tatap seeks help on ‘smuggling’

MANILA, Philippines — Table tennis president John Rex Tiu Wednesday asked Malacañang to look into the case of human smuggling involving his own national sports association.

Tiu, who was elected president of the Table Tennis Association of the Philippines (Tatap) last year, said in a statement that he wants to clean up the association.

“We appeal to President Aquino to step in and order the BID (Bureau of Immigration and Deportation) to pursue this issue of human smuggling without let-up and place behind bars those who are responsible,” said Tiu.

Last May, two national athletes were barred from boarding a plane that would take them to compete in the Slovakia Open on the suspicion that their coach is involved in human smuggling.

“As a consequence, no member of the delegation participated at the said event causing shame and embarrassment to our country,” said Tatap secretary general Domingo Panlilio in a letter to the Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine Olympic Committee dated June 2.