Abalayan: Give mediation a chance 

Abalayan: Give mediation a chance 

ERNEST John (EJ) Obiena already missed competing in the 2022 IAAF World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia over the weekend and it seems his long-standing dispute with his mother association Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) may take a while to get resolved.

Last week, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) suspended Patafa for allegedly failing to serve the purpose as a national sports association (NSA), particularly in its “dedication and commitment toward the development of the sport, promoting the ideals of the Olympic Movement and the spirit of sportsmanship.” The suspension is for 90 days.

POC President Bambol Tolentino was pertaining to Patafa's rift with world-class Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena who was not endorsed by Patafa in high-ranking tournaments such as the world indoor championships. That made the latter the only pole vaulter in the world's top five who failed to see action in the Serbia event.

Patafa also excluded Obiena from the Hanoi SEA Games-bound national athletics team.

The prevailing Patafa-Obiena row has already become a national concern as some senators filed a motion to cite Patafa in contempt for disobeying the Senate Committee on Sports' order for Patafa to amicably settle its differences with the Olympian athlete.

Senator Pia Cayetano filed the motion on March 16, 2022 and it was co-signed by her colleagues senators Vicente Sotto III, Francis Tolentino, and Panfilo Lacson.

Pia said that during the February 7, 2022 hearing of the Senate Committee on Sports, "Obiena presented documents proving that he had fully transmitted payments for his Coach Vitaly Petrov's fees," she said in a statement. The coach also confirmed receiving the same.

Obiena also showed the committee an email from the PSC auditing team confirming that he has completed and submitted all the required liquidation reports. Obiena did admit to delays in sending the payments, which he attributed to the difficulties he encountered in handling the funds, such as the conversion of Philippine pesos to Euros, as well as the late transfer of his training funds.

But Patafa still refused to acknowledge Obiena's clear presentation.

The Senate Committee on Sports, which Dabawenyo Senator Christopher "Bong" Go chairs, thus ordered Patafa and Obiena to go into mediation with the Philippine Sports Commission. PSC Chairman William "Butch" Ramirez chairs the mediation team.

Pia added that Patafa "acted in bad faith" after filing a case before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland, four days after both parties agreed to undergo mediation. In her statement, Pia said Patafa practically and effectively closed any possibility of an amicable settlement with Obiena.

Patafa's actions show that it is hell-bent on staying firm on its stance against Obiena.

In as much as we all want that Obiena gets the justice, he deserves and gets to represent the country on the international stage once again, the POC and the government should also take caution in dealing with Patafa as it is an independent body under the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), the world body for athletics. IIAF has its charter and is also independent of any entity.

For the benefit of the country, Patafa and Obiena need to be serious about the mediation talks if it is the only way to settle the rift. Everybody is a loser here if concerned parties remain stiff-necked.

Hoping and praying that Patafa and Obiena give the mediation process a chance and settle their dispute quickly before the country suffers more losses in the sport of athletics.

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