FILE – PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico during the 2017 Philippine Sportswriters Association Awards Night. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Olympic Committee on Wednesday ratified its executive board’s earlier decision to declare Philip Ella Juico, president of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association, persona non grata.
A total of 54 national sports associations attended the General Assembly with 36 voting yes to the declaration including Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz and swimmer Jessie Lacuña, who are representatives of the Athletes’ Commission.
There were 11 NSAs were considered “no vote” meaning they didn’t sign the notion while five opposed the motion.
Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, International Olympic Committee Representative to the Philippines, and the NSAs for dancesports and netball abstained from voting.
The NSAs also favored the executive board’s decision regarding Olympic pole vautler EJ Obiena’s complaint accusing Juico of harassment.
“We are just following the procedure and there’s nothing personal here against Mr. Juico, and anytime EJ [Obiena] and Juico agreed or EJ withdraws his complaint, the GA can revisit the executive board’s decision,” said POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Juico, as Tolentino said, will stay as Patafa president but “for other matters but no longer recognized by the POC.”
Patafa, meanwhile, “could still function as NSA under the national Olympic committee.”
“He is still the PATAFA president for other matters without recognizing him, but they still have their vice president and secretary general who can attend POC activities,” added Tolentino.