Ramirez sees much-needed resolution to athletics rift

FILE – PSC chairman Butch Ramirez. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Pole vault ace Ernest John Obiena can soon go back to his usual routine and think about his long-running feud with the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) as a thing of the past.

It could happen beginning on Friday when Obiena and the Patafa hopefully consummate a deal that will end their conflict for good through mediation under the supervision of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

“We’re almost there. I have seen the enormous softening of both sides for the sake of Philippine sports,’’ said PSC Chair William “Butch’’ Ramirez, the chief mediator who patiently worked both conflicting parties to achieve peace. “Hopefully on April 1, we’ll be successful.’’

Friday’s mediation will be the fifth round of talks that brought Patafa president Philip Ella Juico and Obiena to the table since back and forth discussions to reach an amicable solution began early this month.

“There are agreements that have been discussed on both sides, the only thing lacking are their signatures. I hope they would finally agree, it’s almost done,’’ said Ramirez.

SEA Games ticket

Once both parties sign the peace pact, it would serve as Obiena’s ticket to see action in the coming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, on May 12-23, the World Athletics Championship in Eugene, Oregon, in July and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, in September.

Putting a lid on the controversy would likewise pave the way for Obiena, the world’s No. 5 vaulter and Asian record-holder, to prepare for the coming qualifying meets for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“As a mediator, I will not succeed without the two agreeing. I hope they can work with me to heal the wounds and act as one for our countrymen who have been spending [for them],’’ said Ramirez.

The PSC took the role of peacemaker since the controversy broke out nearly six months ago when the Patafa accused Obiena of failing to liquidate properly the government funds given to him for the salary of his Ukrainian coach Vitaly Petrov. INQ