Scheduling conflicts delay Martinez-Aquino meeting – Palace

Michael Christian Martinez AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – It may take a while before Olympian and figure skater Michael Christian Martinez meets President Benigno Aquino III, Malacañang said Sunday.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma told media that there were still no developments on the proposed courtesy call because of scheduling conflicts.

“Tingnan din natin kung ano ‘yung kanyang schedule dahil meron po tayong natutunghayan sa mga pahayagan na schedule ng kanyang mga paglahok sa iba’t iba ring kompetisyon. ‘Yan po ay isa ring factor sa pagtatakda ng pagkikita nila ng Pangulo,” he said.

(Let’s check his schedule because we have monitored in the news that Martinez is set to participate in other competitions. That is one factor that affects his meeting with the President.)

Two weeks ago, Coloma said Palace received a request for a courtesy call from the Philippine Sports Commission. At that time, however, the President was set to visit typhoon-hit areas, as well as Malaysia.

Martinez was supposed to compete at the 2014 Junior World Figure Skating Championship in Bulgaria this month but recently pulled out because of a knee injury.

Letter to Aquino spammed

Martinez’s mother had complained that they did not receive support from the government and that her letter to the President was left unanswered.

Malacañang had said that the e-mail of Martinez’s mother that was sent to Aquino was probably marked spam.

Coloma reiterated that they did not receive any letter from Martinez’s mother, supposedly asking the government to support the skater’s bid in the Winter Olympics.

“It was not received in the e-mail. One possibility offered was that it was placed in the spam folder. And by protocol, our staff does not retrieve e-mails marked spam because of security implications,” he said.

Nevertheless, the Secretary said they hope the outpouring of support for Martinez after he finished top 19 in the figure skating competition in Sochi will “generate enough momentum for him to qualify for the next Olympics.”

“That is why we said before that while he did not receive enough support in the past, he is now reaping tremendous support from all sectors. And the government is one with those giving support,” Coloma said.

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