Home 
By the looks of it, any move to put the top officials of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) in one room could only end up in confusion.
POC president Jose ``Peping'' Cojuangco Jr. has spurned the invitation of a dialogue despite PSC chair Harry Angping's call for a lasting solution to break the impasse of a long-running feud between the two institutions responsible for shaping the future of Philippine sports.
``What are we going to talk about? We haven't done anything wrong,'' said Cojuangco in reaction to the proposed negotiations broached by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.
``At this point, I don't think there's a need for a dialogue. Just follow the law. That's all what we're asking for,'' suggested the Olympic chief.
Cojuangco emphasized the role of the PSC to subsidize the needs of the national sports associations and work closely with the POC on the formation of the national team, particularly in terms of funding.
``If they do the things the PSC is mandated to do, I don't think there will be any problem,'' said Cojuangco.
The POC head added the Olympic body and the government sports agency met thrice last year with International Olympic Committee representative to RP Frank Elizalde and health secretary Francisco Duque acting as mediators on separate occasions.
``Nothing happened in those meetings,'' said Cojuangco.
But while Cojuangco seemed bent on closing the door that can bring them together in one hot spot, Angping was amenable for a quick reconciliation to put an end to the conflict that can be traced as far back as the 2008 POC elections.
``I'm amenable to anything that will resolve all of these complications. We have to move on,'' said Angping, who supported shooting chief Art Macapagal in the POC presidential elections won by Cojuangco for a fresh four-year term.
Branding the dispute as a ``waste of precious time and resources,'' Angping said he would be willing to talk things over as soon as the stage for the negotiations is set.
``I'm willing to sit down. But even if I sit down with him and agree on some matters, I will be trapped in the middle if he becomes too demanding,'' said Angping.
``As far as I know, what I'm doing is good for the athletes. I have never done anything against that you can consider below the belt,'' added the PSC top honcho.
According to POC spokesperson Joey Romasanta, the POC and the PSC appointed their respective liaison officers to transact on their behalf shortly before former PSC chair Butch Ramirez stepped down last year.
``It was a good setup since the appointed liaison officers are tasked to negotiate on whatever issue the POC and the PSC has to settle,'' said Romasanta.
``But when he (Angping) took over, the plan was shelved,'' he added.
