Saturday, July 07, 2007 PSC chair floats, waits for word from Palace
IT IS business as usual at the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
PSC chairperson William “Butch” Ramirez, who resigned from his post last week, is left afloat with the rest of the commission members while Mala-cañang’s word on their fate remains a guess.
Ramirez submitted a mandatory resignation last week before he left for China to send off RP athletes for training.
The resignation was in response to President Gloria Macapagal Ar-royo’s directive for all government office heads to hand in their resignations.
Ramirez’s right hand, Joseph Encabo, said that it is up to the president to decide on Ramirez’s fate. “If we don’t receive any response from Mala-cañang, it means the chairman stays. If we receive a note, it probably contains a thank you note, thanking Ramirez for the services he rendered and to tell us that there will be another official coming in,” Encabo said.
No word
As of yesterday, however, Ramirez still has not received a word from the Palace.
Encabo said that it may mean that Ramirez stays, but the latter prefers to receive a formal notice from Arroyo instead of speculating.
“It will be better if we will be informed formally,” Ramirez said.
Despite this, work continues at the PSC.
“I may have submitted a three-page resignation, but that does not mean that we could just abandon work here. We are preparing for world class competition,” said Ramirez, who personally took charge of the athletes’ preparations for this December’s Sea Games and next year’s Beijing Olympics.
Ramirez said that while the president’s directive was a bit untimely as the country heaves for the Olympics, he assured this will not hamper preparations.
“We have it all mapped out. Plans and schedules are well-structured and we have a group of systematic people so this will, in no way, affect Olympics preparation,” Ramirez added.
Tenure
There are reports saying that Senator Chiz Escudero is interested in batting for a fixed term for PSC leadership, to which Ramirez is amenable with.
“I agree with that because it lessens or eliminates chances of PSC leader to be mixed up with politics. That way, he can do his job without any distractions,” Ramirez added.
Ramirez, however, said that if in case the president decides to replace him, it will be fine with him.
“I think I have done my share to uplift the country’s sports program. I am not the only person suited for this job. There are many others who can also give their contribution for this office and to our sports programs. If I go, I will thank the president for giving me this opportunity because this is really a dream for me to help out sports,” said Ramirez, who is also an educator. (MCB)
