PALACE ORDERS PROBE INTO ATHLETES’ FUNDING COMPLAINTS

PRESIDENT R. Marcos Jr. has called for a review of the financial support provided to Filipino athletes competing in the 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, as part of efforts to ensure that the country’s national athletes receive the assistance and resources they need to compete at their best.

Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Monday the government would look into the circumstances surrounding the complaints and determine whether any sports official had been negligent or had mishandled funds intended for athletes.

“Unang-una, papa-imbestigahan po ito para malaman natin kung ano ba iyong naranasan ng ating mga athlete, mga ating manlalaro,” Castro said during a Palace press briefing.

“Hindi po kasi gusto ng ating Pangulo na iyong mga nagre-represent sa ating bansa ay sila pa ang nahihirapan. Dahil parang hindi tumutugon ang gobyerno sa pangangailangan nila. Ayaw-na-ayaw po iyan ng Pangulo,” she added.

The Palace statement came after Alas Pilipinas Men captain Bryan Bagunas disclosed the financial difficulties encountered by the national volleyball team before and during its Asian Games campaign.

Bagunas said members of the team had not received their regular allowances since July, forcing some players to borrow money from teammates and other people just to pay transportation expenses to attend training.

The Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) has since apologized to the national athletes, acknowledging that some players had been forced to shoulder expenses and borrow money and admitting that its efforts to address their needs had not been enough.

Castro said Malacañang would first establish the facts and determine where any shortcomings occurred before drawing conclusions about responsibility.

“Alam na naman din natin kung gaano pinahahalagahan ng ating Pangulo ang ating mga manlalaro. Sa ganito pong pagkakataon kinakailangan itong pagtuunan ng pansin, kung saan may kulang, sino may pagkukulang at kung ang mga ibinibigay na mga ganitong pamamahayag ay tama at may basehan,” Castro said.

She stressed that officials found to have abused their authority, particularly in handling funds intended for athletes, should be held accountable.

“Kapag nagkataon na ito ay totoo at may umabuso, dapat lang pong mapanagot kung sino ang mga umaabuso,” Castro said.

Asked whether officials would be held accountable if the investigation established that athletes had been neglected, Castro replied: “Dapat lang po. Lahat po ng umaabuso sa kapangyarihan, lalo na kung may isyu tungkol sa pondo, hindi sila dapat na maging masaya kung sila man ay nakalamang, dahil papanagutin sila.”

“Pero ang tinitiyak lang natin ay ayaw ng Pangulo na ang ating mga manlalaro ay hindi nabibigyan ng sapat na ayuda,” Castro said.