‘Stop inflaming Patafa-Obiena row’
PSpeaking at the Philippine Sportswriters Association online forum on Tuesday morning, Ramirez requested everyone to stop issuing public statements and allow the mediation process to take place.
Ramirez said he will preside over the arbitration offered by the PSC. It will start once Obiena and Patafa have submitted their mediation agreements.
“People who are not part of this, please stop talking and allow the mediation to come in. Unless EJ Obiena comes and agrees to a mediation agreement and Patafa, we cannot start the first round — mediator to Obiena, mediator to
January 12, 2022
HILIPPINE Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez reiterated his plea to the stakeholders of Philippine sports and the public to stop adding fuel to the friction between Olympian pole vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa).
Patafa,” Ramirez said.
“Second round, mediator to EJ, mediator to Patafa, and we agree on points set by the PDRCI (Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Incorporated), then we can come to the last part — joint meeting where both agree and sign the mediation and have peace.”
The row between the Patafa and Obiena went public in November and was dragged into a battle of opinions in social media. Ramirez wants this to stop because the issue, he said, is pulling “the nation’s name to the mire of negativity in the international sports scene.” to us regarding some things now. Patafa is also cooperating with us. We are very positive that this mediation will bear good fruit,” Ramirez said.
“The signs are very good. We’re talking to EJ, we’re talking to Patafa. I hope people don’t get impatient with the mediation process because we cannot impose on Patafa and EJ that we want to expedite this but we have to rely on the humanity of EJ and Patafa.”
Obiena is in hot waters over his alleged falsification of liquidation reports pertaining to the compensation of his coach Vitaly Petrov and alleged misappropriation of public funds.
The administrative committee formed by Patafa recommended the dropping of Obiena from the national team and the filing of an estafa case against the world’s 6th-ranked pole vaulter.
Patafa, however, deferred action to drop Obiena from the training pool in respect to the Malacañang and PSC’s requests to resolve the issue amicably like true sportsmen.