Patafir chief Philip Ella Juico —Tristan Tamayo
MANILA, Philippines – The executive board of the Philippine Olympic Committee on Monday lifted the non-grata tag of the personality of athletics chief Philip Ella Juico and lifted the suspension order of the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association.
POC President Abraham “Bumble” Talentino confirmed the decision of the executive board, while Patafa and Paul Walter Ernest John Obina finally settled their differences through the mediation of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Due to his feud with world No. 5 Voltaire and Asian record holder Obina, POC Juico, Patapa president, announced the impersonal non-grata more than two months ago.
The local Olympic body eventually went on to suspend Patafa, but the POC executive board decided not to bring it to the POC General Assembly last week after a positive turn of events during the mediation of PSC chairman William “Bach” Ramirez.
The back-to-back feud between Patafa and Obina has been going on for nearly six months over the liquidation issue the track association has filed against its star athlete.
Resolving the issues between Obiena and Patafa, Obiena got the green light to defend her title at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.
An investigative source revealed that Patafa and Obiena are now going through a healing process with the athletics body setting up a digital assembly for its national athletes, including Obina.
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