PASA president sued for banning swimmer

Manila — Teen swimmer Paul Jerome Carpio filed yesterday charges against Philippine Aquatic Sports Association (PASA) president Mark Joseph for violation of Republic Act 7610, also known as the Anti-Child Abuse Act.

In a complaint filed before the Quezon City Prosecutor’s Office, Carpio accused Joseph of violating his rights by preventing him from competing in the 43rd Sabah Age Group Swimming Championships in 2010, in Kota Kinabalu.

Carpio said that in January 2010, the organizers of the Penampang Swimming Association of Sabah invited the Aquatic Sports Association of the Philippines to compete in the event.

The ASAP then formed and sent a team to Kota Kinabalu that included Carpio, who was to have seen action in the 50-meter freestyle and 200m free relay of the 15-17 age group.

Carpio alleged that because of Joseph’s intervention, the organizers disallowed the participation of the Filipino.

According to Carpio, Joseph informed the organizers that the swimmers were not recognized by the PASA and that their passports and other papers could be fake.

The PASA does not recognize the ASAP and insists that it cannot compete in a tournament sanctioned by the international swimming federation, FINA.

To appease the Filipinos, the organizers asked them to swim instead for a Northern Borneo team, an offer which Carpio and the other swimmers rejected.

Carpio said that because of Joseph’s action, he suffered embarrassment, humiliation and emotional and psychological stress.   /inquirer with reports from Marlon Benardino