Ineligible athletes discovered in 2011 Palarong Pambansa

DAPITAN CITY — The 2011 Palarong Pambansa formally opened yesterday here. And just like in the past, several athletes were found out ineligible to compete in the country’s biggest competition pitting elementary and secondary students.

An official of the screening committee, who asked not to be named, told Cebu Daily News that several players were disqualified.

Officials of the annual event said that stringent measures were in place to screen out athletes who may submit questionable credentials.

“Age cheating” and “identity switching” have been the common grounds for disqualification in previous editions of the annual event.

The official said the list of disqualified athletes was submitted to Atty. Tonisito Umali, secretary general of this year’s Palarong Pambansa, and assistant secretary for legal and legislative affairs of the Department of Education (DepEd).

Umali was present during yesterday’s opening.

A staffer of Umali showed CDN a folder with voluminous documents containing the list of disqualified athletes. CDN, however, was not allowed to have the documents checked as Umali has yet to examine them.

Hostilities opened with a grand parade with thousands of rain-soaked athletes showing up at the Jose Rizal Memorial State University. Heavy rains poured during the parade of colors but the show went on.

Also present during the opening were DepEd Secretary Bro. Armin Luistro and Vice-President Jejomar Binay, who was the guest speaker. /EDITORIAL ASSISTANT CALVIN D. CORDOVA