Obiena, handa na sa mediation sa PATAFA

ni VA - @Sports | February 10, 2022

Handa ng makipag-usap ang kampo ni Olympian EJ Obiena sa Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) kung saan mamamagitan ang Philippine Sports Commission.

Sa isinagawang joint inquiry ng Senate Committee on Sports at Finance, kapwa sumang-ayon sina PATAFA chairman at Congressman Rufus Rodriguez at Obiena nang tanungin ni Senador Bong Go kung handa ba silang sumailalim sa PSC mediation process. "We agree that there will be mediation, and from that mediation which we have been wanting to really occur but unfortunately, twice na naudlot 'yung mediation because the other party did not want to. Yes, we would like to go even by tomorrow, President [Philip] Juico is willing or I am willing to go into mediation," wika ni Rodriguez.

Ngunit kapalit ng pagsang-ayon nitong makipagpulong ay hiniling ni Obiena na ibalik siya sa roster ng national team na magpapakita umano ng sinseridad ng PATAFA na makipagkasundo.

Pero ayon kay Rodriguez madedesisyunan ito pagkatapos pa ng mediation.

"As to reinstatement, of course that will be considered in the mediation. To reinstate Mr. Obiena is one of the options that will be done after the mediation. Because when the mediation is going to be held, it goes back to the [PATAFA] Board, because whatever Mr. Juico will agree to, it has to be passed by the Board,"ani Rodriguez.

Sa panig naman ni Obiena, nais sana niyang makakita ng senyales na talagang gusto ng PATAFA na makipagkasundo sa kanya. "My only take is, I believe, going into mediation, there should be a sign of reconciliation and a sign that they actually want this. In my understanding, putting me back as a national team member, I believe that, as Sen.(Francis) Tolentino said, is a sign of good faith," dagdag nito. "I'm more than willing to put this aside and move on and hopefully continue to train and compete for the Philippines in the next few years."