Even if he will not be the chef de mission, PSC chairman Butch Ramirez said that he will still support the Philippine team in the SEA Games. |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA—Philippine Sports Commissioner chairman Butch Ramirez confirmed reports on Monday that he was being tipped to take over from Makati congressman Monsour Del Rosario as the chef de mission for the Philippine Team in the Southeast Asian Games later this year.
"Yesterday, I got a call from Cong. Bambol Tolentino, who on behalf of the Philippine Olympic Committee as its chairman, very kindly offered me the chef de mission tasks for Team Philippines' 2019 Southeast Asian Games participation," Ramirez said in a statement on Tuesday.
However, in the said statement, he also said that he is not accepting the offer.
"After some moment of introspection, and to finally put to rest all speculations, I now issue this statement to humbly and officially decline the offer," Ramirez continued. "Thank you very much for considering this humble servant."
The removal of Del Rosario from the CDM position was part of a massive shakeup in the POC that also saw former president Peping Cojuangco being stripped of a crucial spot as the chairman of the constitutional amendments committee.
Despite declining the CDM offer, Ramirez assured that he and the PSC will still be there for the national team from Nov. 30-Dec. 11 in the SEA Games.
"Whether or not I am CDM, I and the PSC will surely provide our full and sincere support to Team Philippines especially in the SEA Games 2019," Ramirez vowed.
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