Who Is Philip Juico, President of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association?
On January 3, 2022, the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) moved to expel Filipino Olympian and Asian superstar vaulter EJ Obiena from the national team, stripping him of his status as an official Philippine athlete. PATAFA has accused Obiena of misappropriating funds and filed charges against the athlete for alleged estafa.
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) immediately came to the defense of Obiena, saying it will fight for Obiena and make sure he represents the Philippines in international pole vaulting events.
As of this writing, Obiena is the world’s third highest-ranking pole vaulter and is regarded as Asia’s best.
But who is Philip Juico, the man behind PATAFA and its feud with EJ Obiena?
Who is Philip Juico?
Philip “Popoy” Juico is a former secretary of Agrarian Reform from 1987 to 1989. He tried to implement the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program or CARP, which some claim is a “total failure” more than 30 years after it was implemented.
His wife is Margarita “Margie” Penson Juico, who served as the chairperson of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) from 2010 to 2014. Prior to that, Margarita had served as the social secretary of the late President Corazon Aquino, and had served for 17 years on the PCSO board. Philip and Margarita have four children, the youngest of whom, Mayen Juico, now serves as Quezon City’s 1st District councilor.
Philip Juico is also the fourth chairperson of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) in which he served from 1996 to 1998. He also served as chairman of the Philippine Super Liga, non-professional corporate club women's volleyball league in the Philippines.
In 2015, Juico was elected president of PATAFA, and then reelected in 2021.
Juico’s La Salle Roots
Philip Juico is an alumnus of De La Salle University. According to the De La Salle Alumni Association, Juico finished grade school in La Salle in 1961, high school in La Salle in 1965, and obtained his AB-BSC degree in De La Salle University in 1970.
In 2001, the De La Salle Alumni Association included Juico in the Sports Hall of Famers for his contributions to the National Sports Programs.
Philip Juico, ‘Persona Non Grata’
On December 27, 2021, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) declared Juico persona non grata, a result of his accusations against Olympian and star vaulter Ernest John “EJ” Obiena.
“The POC approved the recommendation of the Ethics Committee declaring Juico as persona non grata,” said POC president Abraham Tolentino. “We do not recognize him anymore as president of PATAFA until the new election of its president.”
The POC is an autonomous sports body independent from the government or the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). According to the POC, it will ensure Obiena will represent the Philippines in various overseas competitions in 2022, including the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi in May and the 19th Asian Games in Huangzhou in September.
Manny Pacquiao on Juico: He Should Resign
After being declared persona non grata by the POC, boxing legend and Senator of the Philippines Manny Pacquiao lauded the POC’s move and suggested for Juico to resign.
“With this action of the POC, I think that the most honorable thing to do for Mr. Juico is to resign,” said Pacquiao.
“This decision of the POC is a vindication from this useless and senseless politicking among our sporting officials. Thank you, POC President Abraham Tolentino, for taking immediate action on behalf of our athletes,” he added.
History of the Feud Between Philip Juico / PATAFA and EJ Obiena
On November 21, 2021, two letters from PATAFA addressed to Obiena were reportedly leaked to select media outlets. In the letters, Obiena was told to return €85,000 (P4.8 million) to PATAFA and that funding for his training in Formia, Italy would be suspended until the investigation into the financial issue was resolved.
“Based on the written statements of Mr. Sergey Bubka and Mr. Vitaly Petrov, including the documents you have submitted to the Patafa, it appears that you falsified the liquidations submitted to the Patafa and failed to pay the coaching fees of Mr. Vitaly Petrov in the total amount of Eighty-Five Thousand Euros (€85,000),” said the first letter, as per Inquirer.
According to Obiena’s interview with Karen Davila on ANC Headstart, Obiena received the letters on November 15 and addressed the issue immediately, sending proof of payments and screenshots of his messages with Vitaly to PATAFA.
Following the leak, Obiena released a press statement defending himself.
“My own federation comes after me with pure aggression, no benefit of the doubt, and with intent to destroy my reputation,” wrote Obiena.
'I was misled by the provocative questioning of Philip Ella Juico.'
Obiena's coach, Vitaliy Petrov, claimed Juico misled him during questioning about Obiena's payments.
“First, I have been fully paid by EJ Obiena. Secondly, I have no issue with EJ Obiena. Thirdly, I never have reached out to Patafa, and I never initiated any complaint against EJ Obiena,” said Petrov, defending Obiena.
“Fourth, I was misled by the provocative questioning of Philip Ella Juico and I mistakenly answered his questionnaire according to the way that he wanted me to which is to make EJ Obiena look like a criminal.
Lastly, hereby formally withdrawal any prior statements or documents associated to me. This is the only document that may be attributed to myself,” added Petrov.
