Philippine Sports Commission chairman Richard Bachmann on Tuesday denied the government sport’s body had a hand in the “untimely” Commission on Audit demand for the Philippine Olympic Committee to account for its unliquidated financial assistance in 1988.
“The COA operates independently from the PSC and as far as we know, has the authority to examine, audit, and settle government accounts, including those of the PSC,” said Bachmann in a press conference.
“The timing and issuance of letters to the POC by the COA are therefore not within the purview of the PSC. These demands or confirmation letters are routinely sent to entities with unliquidated balances, and the POC is no exception. The COA operates independently from the PSC and, as far as we know, has the authority to examine, audit and settle all governmental accounts, including those of the POC,” added the PSC chief.
On Sunday at the end of the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino lashed out at the PSC for sending a letter to the POC indicating a P10-million unliquidated financial assistance to the Olympic organization for Filipino athletes’ participation in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
The letter, coursed through the PSC’s in-house Commission on Audit office, was dated September 20—a day after Tolentino and top POC officials arrived in China right when action was about to begin.
“The PSC does not believe that COA intended it to be a distraction, and neither was it PSC’s. The PSC only has full-hearted support and encouragement, especially from the PSC Secretariat in China, my Commissioners, and I,” said the PSC chief.
Bachmann said he will sit down with POC officials and deputy secretary general Bones Floro to discuss this issue with them.
