EJ Obiena & PATAFA finally end four-month rift after mediation

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

A big win for Philippine sports.

After four months of back-and-forth, Filipino pole vaulter superstar EJ Obiena and the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (PATAFA) finally reached a mutual settlement in ending their rift.

According to the statement by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Obiena and PATAFA agreed to terms during the fifth session of their mediation.

“It is with much joy that we announce that both parties have agreed to a settlement and the proceedings ended successfully. Both have assured each other of forgiveness, to start anew, and move on,” said the PSC.

The PSC added that PATAFA will now endorse Obiena in the upcoming 2022 Southeast Asian Games and the World Athletics Championship as a result of their mediation.

Aside from PATAFA’s re-endorsement of Obiena’s bid for the 2022 SEA Games and the World Athletics Championship, other tournaments falling under the helm of the national sports association will also follow.

It all started when PATAFA accused Obiena of false liquidations of the funds given to him during his time training abroad.

The dispute didn’t end immediately and eventually involved Obiena’s head coach, Ukrainian legend Vitaly Petrov, big-time sports patron James Michael Lafferty, and his mother Jeanette Obiena.

PSC chairman William “Butch” Ramirez, PATAFA president Philip Ella Juico, and Obiena conducted their fifth mediation session in a private virtual meeting.

Also present during the mediation sessions are assistant solicitor general Bernard Hernandez, PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy, and Philippine Dispute Resolution Center Inc.’s executive director Arleo Magtibay and Member Charlie Ho.

“Chairman Ramirez declared that humility really played a big part in this process. He said that their decision to enter into this process was their first step towards a successful resolution,” continued the PSC’s statement.