The rift between Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission has widened further after the POC issued a resolution strongly urging Malacañang to sack PSC chief Harry Angping for setting policies allegedly discriminating Filipino-foreign athletes.

“The policies and pronouncements of PSC Chairman Harry Angping has demoralized numerous athletes and champions… further discouraging many young Filipino talents raised abroad,” stated a POC resolution read by its president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco during Tuesday’s PSA forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch.

Cojuangco said the board came up with the resolution during its two hour-meeting last Monday.

Also reported present in the forum were Olympic Chief of Mission Monico Puentevella, Philippine Amateur Sports Association (PASA) chief Mark Joseph, Wushu Federation of the Philippines chief Julian Camacho and International Olympic Committee (IOC) country representative Francisco Elizalde.

The POC also complained over Angping’s creation of a task force without coordinating with national sports associations (NSA). The task force was reportedly created to look into reports showing PASA drew more than P29 million worth of financial assistance from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

The funding was reportedly used in the overseas training and allowances of Filipino-American swimmers, who represented the country in various international competitions including the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Cojuangco said the government intervention is a violation of Republic Act 6847 which states that the PSC must coordinate with the POC and the NSAs in the planning and implementation of national sports program.

“We cannot allow something like this to happen,” said Cojuangco. “We just want to make sure that there is always a harmonious relationship between the POC and the PSC.”

Unless Angping is relieved immediately, the POC said it will “sever any type of relationship with the PSC to avoid the country's possible suspension by the IOC.”

Angping: I’m just doing my job
Angping, meanwhile, defended himself from ouster calls as he cited that what he is after is the accountability of the NSAs.

“I’m just doing my job,” said the PSC chairman.

Angping, who earlier urged PAGCOR to cease direct assistance of NSAs, explained that "accountability” is important as far as funding is concerned.

The PSC chairman cited a Commission on Audit finding indicating that PASA drew the more than P29 million worth of funds from PAGCOR from December 2007 to December 2008.

“The amount should have been first released to the PSC before it was given to PASA. Because of its irregularity, the PSC board swiftly and unanimously enacted a resolution revoking and rescinding this practice,” Angping said in his statement.

He, however, said that the formation of the task force that will probe the funding is not after the persecution of PASA. “It’s actually there to help them,” said Angping.

Angping also denied discriminating Filipino-foreign athletes, saying that as a Chinese-Filipino, he is no stranger to racial discrimination.

“I am not against Filipino-Americans, Fil-foreign athletes,” he said. “What we’re after is patronizing home-grown talents.” With a report from the Philippine Star