Nilinaw kahapon ni Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richie Garcia ang mga akusasyong ipinataw sa kanya at buong PSC Board hinggil sa isinampang “graft and corruption” ng hindi kinikilalang grupo ng Philippine Swimming League (PSL) sa Office of the Ombudsman.

Bagamat hindi pa nito nakukuha ang kopya ng isinampang kaso, ipinaliwanag ni Garcia na tanging recommendatory lamang ang kanilang ahensiya at hindi sila ang solong may hawak ng karapatan na magbigay ng hinihingi ng PSL na tax exemption sa pagsali sa mga torneo sa labas ng bansa.

“We want to clear the accusations by our former Senator Nikki Coseteng and Susan Papa,” sinabi ni Garcia. “We have yet to formally receive the papers filed at the Ombudsman but we learned that it is about the disapproved ang tax exemptions na hiningi nila noong 2012 at 2014.”

“Yes, we did received their request but as a matter of process, ipinadala namin iyon sa POC and was denied. They cited Section 21 of the RA 6847 of which state that they are qualified to avail. However, there are implementing rules and regulations that will tell you how to execute the provision and they did not pass,” paliwanag ni Garcia.

“The implementing rules and regulation was made to guide the Chairman, Board as well as the Executive Director, on how to implement the provision. Recommending lang kami. The approval is based on the concerned agency which will finally decide on granting of the request,” sinabi pa ni Garcia.

Una nang sumulat si ret. AFP Major Gen. Jose Angel Honrado, general manager ng Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), sa PSC hinggil sa kumpirmasyon kung ang PSL ay isang bonafide national sports association (NSA) na may karapatang bigyan ng exemption sa pagbabayad ng airport terminal fee.

Gayunman, hindi inaprubahan ng POC ang kahilingan dahil hindi kabilang ang PSL sa lehitimong NSA na isa sa pangunahing requirement upang magawaran ng tax exemption.

“It is not a right, but a privilege,” paliwanag ni Garcia.