FOLLOWING the instructions from executive secretary Eduardo Ermita, Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman William “Butch” Ramirez tendered his resignation yesterday at Ermita’s office before he left for China along with the 27 athletes who will train under Chinese coaches for eight weeks.
In a long distance phone interview with Sun. Star Cebu yesterday, Ramirez, who was already in Hong Kong on his way to China, said his resignation was in concurrence to the memo issued by Ermita last June 22 for “all department secretaries, chairman and officials of the Presidential Commission on Good Government to submit their courtesy resignations.”
“In compliance to the memo of Secretary Ermita, I already handed my resignation this morning (yesterday morning),” Ramirez said. “Right now I’m in Hong Kong on my way to China with the athletes because we have to continue working even if we have resigned already,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
Ramirez’s confirmation of his resignation belied earlier reports the PSC was not part of earlier plans of a revamp.
Asked if he expects to retain his job when he returns from China, Ramirez said his and the PSC Commissioners’ fates now hangs with President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, whether she makes a major revamp in the PSC or not.
“It’s President Arroyo who will decide whether to retain us or not. I won’t know the decision when I return this Saturday,” said Ramirez, who also added the same applies to his commissioners.
Before he handed down his resignation letter, Ramirez has already been quoted in earlier reports from national papers that his resignation is “a courtesy to the President and it’s her prerogative to look for the right people who could help the Chief Executive in her priorities, including projects in the PSC.” (JSV)
