THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) yesterday declared former Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping as ‘Persona Non Grata’ after alleged acts discriminating the Philippine sports.
The declaration was approved during the General Assembly of the POC and certified by its Secretary-General Stephen Hontiveros.
In a POC statement furnished to Sun.Star-Bacolod, it uttered that the basis of their action against Angping was due to his acts of discrimination against sports, coaches and athletes evidenced by his malevolent attempt to divide and conquer the Philippine Team to the 25th SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos in December of 2009.
Moreover, POC also cited that Angping made some words and actions tantamount to racism, uttered publicly and executed as policies of the PSC against Filipino athletes and mixed heritage training and studying abroad.
He further executed ignorance of the spirit of the Olympic Movement, particularly the universal principles of respect, fair play and a sportsman’s responsibility to uphold human dignity, the POC added.
Furthermore, Angping was also accused of contempt of RA 6847, otherwise known as the PSC Act and complete disregard of the roles duties and functions of the POC, NSA and the PSC.
POC also said that the former PSC chief has dehumanized the treatment of the national athletes and coaches by capricious withholding of allowances, nutrition, sports medicine services and foreign exposure for major international sporting events such as the last 25th SEA Games and the forthcoming 16th Asian Games.
He was also accused of the alleged favoritism that has resulted in the over-funding of certain national sports associations and the denial of funding to others in an attempt to divide and conquer the POC and distort the merit system inherent to sports development.
The POC also noted that Angping fostered disharmony and discord between the PSC and the POC.
Likewise, he interfered in the affairs of the POC and NSA’s by recognizing of the illegally elected NSA officers and provision of support to trouble some factions in certain sports.
POC also said that among the grounds of their action were Angping’s constant public humiliation and belittling of the Philippine Team and its chances of winning in critical international competitions, resulting in the demoralization among Filipino Athletes.
Moreover, he was also accused of cruelty to a female athlete and economically deprived disabled national athlete that has brought glory to the country in the Paralympics and Asian and Southeast Asian Para Games.
These are only few of the accusations and basis of the POC for declaring Angping ‘persona non grata.’