I read this from an article in the Tribune by Julius Manicad . Have added additional insights.
Like a Vigilante set to clean up Philippine Sports Commissioner Ramon Fernandez continued his mission to clean house. And in the process refusing for the PSC to continue to cow-tow as servants to the POC President.
In light of the Rally set on September 21 to demand the resignation of Peping Cojuanco as POC President. While William Ramirez opted not to be directly involved in this. He defended the rights of those to have their own opinions.
Fernandez who with the support of the COA is pushing for the return of an alleged 27 million pesos owed by the POC. Which has remained un-liquidated some of it going as far back as the 2005 SEA Games. Some 12 years ago.
Ramirez and Cojuanco meeting with Foreign Affairs Secretary Peter Cayetano had turned into a war of words. With both officials raising issues against each other over the 2019 SEA Games organising.
A Daily Tribune source said Cojuangco admonished the PSC for keeping the money issues alive. Also demanded Ramirez to admonish Fernandez for his social media posts. Criticising the POC Chief’s disregard of the Commission on Audit (CoA) order.
Cojuangco also tried to cover all bases. Questioned Fernandez’s support of the planned rally to call for his ouster on September 21. And mentioned the libel case filed by Fernandez against him as an irritant to their talks for the SEA Games hosting.
Ramirez, however, stood by Fernandez and reminded Cojuangco to treat them with respect, being presidential appointees.
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The source quoted Ramirez as telling Cojuangco: “You may not like him, but at least respect the position.”
Ramirez was also quoted as saying:“We may be a collegial body, but I have no control of what a commissioner may say. So, please respect him (Fernandez).”
“We are the assistant secretaries of the President. So, he (Cojuangco) has to respect our office. He may not like us, but he has to respect us.”
“Masyadong mabait si chairman Butch, ayaw nyang hiyain ang tao (Cojuangco) sa publiko,” said Fernandez. “But at least he (Cojuangco) saw that when push comes to shove, chairman Ramirez and the PSC will stand up and fight back.”
Tribune tried to get Cojuangco’s side on the matter but he has left for Ashgabat, Turkmenistan for the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which fires off this Sunday.
