Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV on Wednesday threatened to cut the proposed budget of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) for 2014 by at least P10 million when the proposal reaches the plenary.
Trillanes expressed his “inclination” to cut the proposed P178 million budget of the PSC after he announced during the hearing of the Senate sub-committee on finance that he filed a malversation case at the Office of the Ombudsman against PSC chairman Richie Garcia and Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. and others for releasing the PSC funds to alleged bogus national sports associations (NSAs).
“I’d like to inform the committee, just this morning I filed a malversation case in the Ombudsman against chairman Richie Garcia, Mr. Peping Cojuangco and some other people in relation to the release of PSC funds to bogus NSAs,” he said.
“So that’s my main issue against the PSC. You have become a rubberstamp of Mr. Peping Cojuangco and we have to put a stop to that…” he said.
But Trillanes promised that he would not block the “legitimate” support to other NSAs.
Garcia, who was present at the hearing, said he was ready to answer the case at the proper forum but he explained that the PSC has been releasing funds to NSA’s that are recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee as provided for under Republic Act 6847.
“Mr. Garcia, we’ve been talking about this. You can’t wash your hands on this matter because precisely I informed you that the legitimacy issue has yet to be resolved by the court so pending that court resolution , I advised you not to release funds to that recognized NSAs…” Trillanes said.
“Because if we are to follow your logic, what if Mr. Peping Cojuangco would recognize some random guy on the street..? Automatically you will release funds to that random guy on the street Mr. Garcia, is that what you’re saying?”
“No, your honor. As provided in RA 6847, Section 13, NSAs organized for the respective sports in the Philippines and or are affiliated with their respective international federations which are recognized by the international committee are recognized as such,” Garcia said.
But the senator noted that the International Sports Federation recognizes those recognized by the POC.
Trillanes said Cojuangco “arbitrarily” recognizes bogus NSAs “or they will form their own NSAs if he’s not agreeable to the president of the legitimate NSAs .”
“Anyway, you’ve been warned. I warned you , don’t release the funds because the legitimacy issue is yet to be resolved and yet you released the funds and what happened to those funds?”
“Those funds were basically pocketed by the people that Peping Cojuangco recognized. They didn’t conduct tournaments, they overcharged the PSC and you willingly gave them money so you will have to answer for that,” the senator added.
And when Garcia insisted that the fund releases were based on the law and mandates of the PSC, Trillanes then threatened to slash the budget of the commission.
“Chairman, you are insisting on that line, you are insisting on that line but you know for a fact that what you did was wrong. Ok magkakasabwat kayo, magkakasabwat kayo and wag mo akong paandaran ng mga recognize by the POC,” he said.
“Anyway, wag mo na, iinit lang ang ulo ko pag nag-insist ka dito. Ngayon, may inclination was to cut your MOOE by half from P20 million…I understand to around P10 million. If you would pursue that line baka itulak ko pababa yan…” the senator added.
MOOE stands for maintenance and other operating expenses.
Despite the exchange, Senator Teofisto Guingona III, who was presiding over the hearing, moved to approve the proposed budget of the Commission .
Guingona said the issue brought up by Trillanes could just be taken up again in the plenary.
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