EJ Obiena, PATAFA achieve closure amid liquidation controversy

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) officially ended their 5-month beef after the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Commission on Audit (COA) cleared him of his training fund liquidation issue.

It was another win for Philippine sports as Obiena confirmed his reconciliation with PATAFA and is already back representing the Philippines for the rest of the international tournaments scheduled this year.

Obiena posted COA’s response to his letter regarding his request for accountability clearance dated March 31, 2022.

“Nevertheless, we would like to inform you that based on our regular audit of your liquidation, the related expenditures for the following financial assistance granted for your training totaling 12,234,114.40 pesos were in order and that we have not issued any Notice of Suspension nor Notice of Disallowance,” wrote COA’s response in the letter.

Previously, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the PSC confirmed that Obiena and PATAFA already reached a reconciliation in a private video forum which became the stepping stone for the renewed development of their relationship.

Days after the good news, PATAFA and the POC then announced that Obiena will be re-endorsed for the World Athletics Championship and the rest of the international competitions this year.

The three-day talks ended months of misunderstanding and back-and-forth that even reached the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

With things now settled, Obiena said he will be shifting his focus for the upcoming 2022 Southeast Asian Games to be held in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“We now have closure. I would like to be back and focus on training and competing for the country with my teammates in PATAFA and its officials. We now eye with 100% focus the upcoming SEA Games. We will do our very best to represent the Philippines,” shared Obiena in his Facebook post.