THE Philippine Sports Commission-led mediation proceedings on the athletics row reached its fifth session today.
“It is with much joy that we announce that both parties have agreed to a settlement and the proceedings ended successfully.”
The Philippine Athletics and Track and Field Association (PATAFA), the sole governing body of Athletics as recognized by the World Athletics, has agreed to endorse EJ Obiena to the Southeast Asian Games and the World Outdoor Athletics.
Both parties have also agreed that endorsement for participation of Obiena to other competitions will be subject to the usual rules and regulations of the PATAFA, as observed for the participation of all national athletes.
PSC Chairman William Ramirez who served as the sole mediator in the proceedings expressed his happiness that the first-ever sport mediation conducted by the PSC successfully assisted both parties to arrive at a settlement.
The Office of the Solicitor General thru Assistant Solicitor General Bernard Hernandez, and the Philippine Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. through its Executive Director Atty. Arleo Magtibay and member, Atty. Charlie Ho, lent their expertise, guidance, and support to the historic mediation proceedings, together with the PSC Mediation team led by Atty. Guillermo B. Iroy, Jr., PSC’s Executive Director.
After the fifth session, Mr. Juico, Obiena and Chairman Ramirez met in a private virtual room for discussion.
Obiena expressed his apologies to PATAFA, its board members and his teammates, and both have assured each other of forgiveness, to start anew and start over.
Chairman Ramirez declared that humility really played a big part in this process.
He said that their decision to enter into this process was their first step towards a successful resolution.
All information discussed and disclosed in the said mediation is confidential as agreed by all parties.
