MANILA - .The feud between the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) now shifts into high gear after the PSC the formally charged POC president Joe Cojuangco of malversation of public funds at the Regional Trial Court today.

This was in relation to the P73.243 million funds alloted for the Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee (Philsoc).

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PSC chairman Harry Angping’s lawyer, Angela Deguino, said they will definitely file the case early today either at the Manila RTC or Makati RTC.

Angping explained the filing of the case is not a retaliation to the malversation case, coercion and grave threat filed by Cojuangco against him at the Makati RTC last Monday.

“There’s nothing personal here. It is not a retaliation against Mr. Cojuangco. We have been long preparing for this case. It’s just that we only completed the paperwork now,” said Angping.

Angping also denied accusations by Cojuangco of political propaganda, saying the move is not to malign the presidential ambition of Cojuangco’s nephew Noynoy Aquino.

Deguino said they decided to formally file the case after their final demand letter to liquidate or return the money lapsed last Nov. 4.

Cojuangco was the president of Philsoc, which received government financial assistance amounting to P300 million for the hosting of the 23rd Southeast Asian Games in 2005.

“Only P73,243,524 remain unliquidated based on the Commission on Audit rules, which means they have liquidated some but the remaining was unacceptable by the COA. It will be us, who will be answerable to the COA if Philsoc will not return the money,” Angping said.

Also named in the complaint are Philsoc secretary-general Steve Hontiveros, deputy secretary general Jose Capistrano Jr and treasurer Ernesto Luis Ortiz.

A similar case was also filed by the PSC against Bacolod Sea Games Organizing Committee (BASOC) of Rep. Monico Puentevella and Cebu Sea Games Organizing Committee (Cebusoc) chief Jonathan Guardo last October.