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Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Court to settle case in Carmela Nava controversy?
By Robert L. Bacasong
FAILING to settle the ‘rift’ at the City Council level, the swim mentor of the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club Swimming Team has conceded that the protest they filed against Bacolod tanker Carmela Nava on questions of age eligibility should be finally lodged before the court.
Edgardo ‘Boggie’ Simons, NOGCC Swim Club coach, told Sun.Star they will contest Nava’s having reaped four gold medals in the recent Philippine National Youth Games-Batang Pinoy held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan before the courts in Himamaylan City and Bacolod within this week - for alleged inconsistencies in Nava’s birth certificate.
Among other contentions, Simons claimed that Nava should have swam in the 11-12 age group level, not at the 9-10 age group where she enlisted during the Batang Pinoy.
But the case will not only focus on Nava, said Simons.
To be rapped as well is her father Rafael, for alleged falsification of documents.
Simons said he will be assisted by Lawyer Luz Dato Lacson in filing the charges.
Moreover, the NOGCC coach claimed the younger Nava has inconsistent documents in various swimming events she had previously competed.
Nava, a sixth grader from Mabini Elementary School, is carrying the banner of the Sta. Fe Swim Club.
Her camp had earlier claimed that she should be treated as “heroine” as she brought four golds for Bacolod.
Simons should likewise refrain from calling her a “cheat,” the Sta. Fe camp said.
But Simons said she never called Nava a “cheat.”
The controversy was first brought to the attention of the Sanggunian’s committee on youth and Sangguniang Kabataan affairs, chaired by Marx Louie de la Rosa.
Simon’s complaint on the matter has likewise been forwarded to the Philippine Amateur Swimming Association and the Philippine Sports Commission, headed by Olympian tanker Eric Buhain.
After at least two postponements at the SP’s agenda calendar, Nava’s case is better left to the sound judgment of the court, majority of the council members yesterday said.
Councilor Bobby Rojas, a member of the committee hearing the controversy, said they still have to meet to further discuss the issue.
Rojas said they have not yet come up with findings in the controversy, citing time constraints.
The grudges which came out between the two parties are personal, Rojas noted. RLB
(January 15, 2003 issue)
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