Former Pampanga Congressman and now Rain or Shine Coach Joseller “Yeng” Guiao commended the decision of the Supreme Court ordering the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to give proper remittances to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
These remittances are intended to help the establishment of sports complexes around the country and fund the training and campaign of Filipino athletes for years to come.
Last week, the Supreme Court en banc led by Senior Associate Justice Marvin Leonen penned a decision mandating both PAGCOR and PCSO to release the appropriate budget to the PSC. It has been eight years since Guiao, then Pampanga 1st district representative and vice chairman of the House Committee on Youth and Sports, filed the petition before the highest tribunal.
The decision is to remit the full amount of 5 percent of gross income to the PSC from 1993 to present and 30 percent of the charity fund of sweepstakes and lottery draw of the PCSO from 2006 to the present.
In a live forum of the Philippine Sportswriters Association, Guiao thanked the SC for favoring his petition years back, adding that the ruling is perfect timing as the country celebrates its campaign in the Paris Olympics.
Guiao, however, said that the battle is not yet over as far as the landmark decision of the Supreme Court is concerned.
“Ayaw natin na parang moral victory lang ito. Legally and morally we’re standing on solid ground. Yung bulk of the work andiyan na, e,” Guiao said during the forum along with his legal counsel Atty. Avelino ‘Jun’ Guzman Jr.
“We don’t want this decision to become a paper judgement. Ang kailangan talaga dito yung pondo pumasok sa PSC, ” Guzman, for his part, added.
Under the rules, according to Guzman, both PAGCOR and PCSO can no longer appeal the decision, but have 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration.
Meanwhile, Guiao in his estimate, said the PSC could get as much as P25 billion in funds after PAGCOR cut down its contribution to just 2.1735 percent of its gross income starting in 1993 on the strength of an executive order from the Office of the President handed down during the time of President Ramos.
“Ang kuwenta ko, tingin ko nasa P25 billion siya,” said Guiao, who considers the decision as the most consequential event since the creation of the PSC in 1990.
Guiao, the lone petitioner in the case, stressed that such a huge amount of budget could help the establishment of sports complexes around the country and fund the training and campaign of Filipino athletes for years to come.
“Masarap pakinggan, magandang isipin. Pero ang dapat makinabang dito yung mga atleta. Makalimutan na kami, ok lang yun. Pero at least sa next generations of athletes, may na-contribute kami. Ang dapat lang makinabang diyan yung bayan, yung athletes, at yung sports program sa grassroots level,” Guiao said.
