OFFERED the position of chef de mission (CDM) for Team Philippines in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William Ramirez humbly and respectfully declined the offer, choosing instead to help the country’s hosting of the biennial sporting meet in a different capacity.

In a statement released yesterday, Mr. Ramirez said while he was honored to have been considered for the post, he was humbly and officially declining the offer as he believes he can serve in other ways even as he called for unity among sports leaders, particularly within the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

The offer came on the heels of a surprising and sweeping organizational change in the POC by its president Ricky Vargas on Monday, where several key officials were removed from their posts.

Among those stripped of his post was Monsour Del Rosario of taekwondo as CDM for Team Philippines in the 2019 SEA Games.

Also removed were Robert Bachmann (squash) as chairman of the membership committee, Peping Cojuangco (equestrian) as chairman of the constitution and bylaws, and Joey Romasanta as CDM to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Mr. Vargas, in their general assembly with national sports association members, said the decision was arrived at as he had lost trust and confidence in the aforementioned officials for what he said was their continuous efforts to undermine his leadership and move for reforms as well as his integrity.

Mr. Vargas replaced Mr. Cojuangco as POC president in February last year.

“I am a public servant. I am bound by duty to deliver what is demanded of me by the law. Whether or not I am CDM in SEA Games 2019, I and the PSC will surely provide our full and sincere support to Team Philippines,” said Mr. Ramirez in officially declining the offer.

He went on to reiterate his call for unity and for officials to get their act together for the good of Philippine sports.

“Today, we wake up to a Philippine sports world in shambles. After the tumultuous event in the yard of our POC partners, we all find ourselves at a crossroads in our journey,” the PSC chairman said.

“I believe that unity is vital in any endeavor. More so in this ideal, that we all undertake in our own capacities — to push Philippine sports to its highest possibilities,” he added.

Mr. Ramirez then offered his office to serve as a mediator for the dissenting parties in the POC for a peaceful resolution of the issues hounding the organization.

“As the Chairman of the PSC, I call upon all our sports leaders to step back and take a moment to consider peaceful interactions. I still believe that we can all sit down and civilly thresh out what needs to be straightened out,” he said.

Adding, “The PSC is open to host a dialogue between parties and provide neutral ground for everyone to air their side and ultimately to either sacrifice or step-up in the interest of a unified sporting community.”

In ending, Mr. Ramirez expressed hope that this latest episode would not hurt our hosting of the SEA Games this year and the country’s bid in next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“We are hosting what we our working very hard on to be the biggest SEAG edition, we are making every possible effort to make 2020 a memorable year with the country’s first Olympic gold and we are running on the fuel of our dreams to finally have infrastructure and facilities that will show the levelled-up fervor of our country in strengthening the foothold of sports,” he said.

“We have our plates full and it is at this time, more than ever, that we need everyone moving in the same direction.”

The 2019 SEA Games will happen from Nov. 30 to Dec. 13. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo

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