Ni Edwin Rollon

HINDI makikiisa ang Philippine Volleyball Federation (PVF) sa isasagawang halalan sa volleyball na pangangasiwaan ng Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) sa Enero 25 sa East Asian Seafoods Restaurant sa Paranaque City.

Sa kanyang sulat kay POC president Rep. Abraham ‘Bambol’ Tolentino na may petsang Enero 18, 2021, sinabi ni PVF president Edgardo ‘Tito Boy’ Cantada na hindi katanggap-tanggap ang inihaing resolusyon  ng Olympic body sa layuning pagkaisahin ang mga stakeholders sa Philippine volleyball.

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“We attended the meeting you set last January 16, 2021 at Shangri-La Hotel to show our sincere desire and true intention to finally see an end to the long-standing problem in Philippine volleyball. We attended to finally see a fair resolution to the crisis that continues to divide and cripple Philippine volleyball,” pahayag ni Cantada.

“But the conditions and parameters you set for the immediate resolution of the problem are unacceptable.

“First, we simply cannot accept the designations of Tats Suzara and Ricky Palou as president with the right to appoint the secretary general and treasurer respectively of the new volleyball group. Mr. Suzara and Mr. Palou were at the forefront of sinister moves to disenfranchise PVF. We cannot work with people who in the past tried with all their might to destroy and kill PVF.

“Second, we cannot accept the condition that PVF must be replaced with a new group. The FIVB General Assembly (FIVB GA) voted to keep PVF a member of FIVB. Of all people, it is you, Cong. Tolentino, who must know that it is PVF that must remain the National Federation and be recognized by POC as the National Sports Association (NSA) because of its affiliation to FIVB.

“Because of these, we regretfully reject the solution that you propose. The problem in Philippine volleyball is not just about PVF. It is about the values and principles that we hold as a people. It is about showing the entire world that we Filipinos are capable of championing truth, justice and good governance in a corrupt and dysfunctional world,” pahayag ni Cantada.

Inorganisa ng POC ang pulong sa mga leader ng volleyball nitong Sabado upang talakayin ang pagbuo ng bagong national federation batay na rin sa kahilingan umano ni FIVBGeneral Director Favio Azevedo.

Ngunit, sa naturang sulat ni Azevedo na may petsang  Disyembre 6, 2020, hindi nito tinukoy ang pagbuo ng bagong volleyball organization, habang ang salitang Philippine National Volleyball Federation ang iginiit nitong tulungang makapag-organisa ng isang demokratikong halalan bago ganapin ang FIVB World Congress sa Feb. 5-7.

Batay sa attestation ng FIVB World Congress nitong 2018, hindi nito inalis ang recognition sa PVF, habang binigyan ng pansamantalang karapatan ang Larong Volleyball ng Pilipinas, Inc. na makapagorganisa ng National Team para sa international tournament, habang gumugulong ang ‘special committee investigation’.

“The FIVB GA already spoken, kami pa rin recognized member. Patunay ang invitation na ibinigay sa amin para dumalo sa GA virtual Council Assembly sa Feb. 5-7.

“ Sa panahon ni POC president Cojuangco, wala kaming hustisya. Umaasa kami sa liderato ni Mr. Tolentino na maitatama ang mali na nagawa ng dating liderato, pero ang nagyari isa pang pagkakamali,” sambit ni Cantada.

Sa media statement ni Tolentino matapos ang meeting nitong Sabado, iginiit niyang nagkakaisa ang lahat ng stakeholders para sa pagbuo ng bagong organisasyon sa volleyball.

"We will report this to the FIVB and we're going to invite them in the elections through video link,"  aniya.