EMBATTLED Philippine Karatedo Federation president Joey Romasanta is fighting back against athletes who spoke up about alleged irregularities in his federation and wants them to retract all accusations and clear him of any wrongdoing.
In a three-page letter written by his counsel, he asked the athletes--who include Cebuano OJ delos Santos--to issue a public statement that would retract a similar public statement they gave to sports reporters when they gave the bombshell.
Curiously absent from the demand letter is Philippine Sports Commission’s Ramon Fernandez, who encouraged the athletes to speak up against the abuses. I doubt, too, that it was the athletes themselves who arranged the press conference as they don’t have the resources to hold one. I’m pretty sure El Presidente had a hand in arranging the press conference, which led to his post on his social media page for Romasanta to focus on him, not on the athletes.
Anyway, it’s curious that Romasanta’s explanation of how he isn’t involved also sort of sums up his presidency. He denied any knowledge of the financial mishandlings because he wasn’t privy to any contracts and transactions regarding the team’s travels.
A president of an NSA who isn’t aware of the transactions involving his athletes? My, my. What do we have here? It’s not as if the PKF has hundreds of athletes or scores of youth teams. It has what, nine athletes involved in one training camp and he didn’t care enough to know what they were getting themselves into?
He either doesn’t care and is clueless and either way, that’s not a good trait for an NSA president.
He also admitted that “the bad system and leadership issues” of the federation were raised to him by vice president Alejandro Vasquez but defended his inaction because he couldn’t act without a formal complaint.
Oh please, let’s got not technical. First step he should have done was to know whether there was such a bad system and leadership issues and ask those involved for suggestions to improve the federation. This isn’t a criminal proceeding where they’d have to get technical before anyone could take a bathroom break.
Again, his admission of failing to take action speaks ill of his leadership in the PKF, which has now been stripped of financial aid by the PSC.
The only way to save the federation and karate right now is for Romasanta, et. al to do the right thing. Resign.