Coach Yeng Guiao and Atty. Jun Guzman at the PSA Forum, August 27, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Handout/PSA
MANILA -- For Yeng Guiao, the battle is not yet over even after the Supreme Court's landmark decision regarding the proper remittances of two government agencies to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).
The Supreme Court last week ordered the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to remit a portion of their income for the funding of the PSC, granting the petition for mandamus that Guiao filed during his time as a congressman.
Guiao, the head coach of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, wants to see the actual execution of the decision, which orders PAGCOR to remit the full amount of five percent of gross income to the PSC from 1993 to the present, and the 30 percent of the charity fund of sweepstakes and lottery draw of the PCSO from 2006 to the present to the same sports funding agency of the government.
"Ayaw natin na parang moral victory lang ito," Guiao said in an appearance on the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, where he was accompanied by his lawyer, Atty. Avelino "Jun" Guzman Jr.
"Legally and morally, we're standing on solid ground," the coach added. "'Yung bulk of the work, andiyan na."
"We don't this decision to become a paper judgement. Ang kailangan talaga dito yung pondo pumasok sa PSC," added Guzman. "Kaya ang una talaga natin na dapat gawin ay bantayan ang decision na ito because as far as we’re concerned, nagawa na natin yung pinaka-mahirap na parte."
READ: PCSO, PAGCOR ordered to remit funds to PSC
Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen penned the decision that was heard en banc by the 15-man Supreme Court, none of whom inhibited themselves from the petition.
Under the rules, according to Guzman, both PAGCOR and PCSO can no longer appeal the decision, but have 15 days to file a motion for reconsideration. As of Tuesday, the two government agencies have yet to make their move.
Per Guiao's estimate, the PSC may receive as much as P25-billion in funds after PAGCOR cut down its contribution to just 2.1735 percent of its gross income starting in 1993 on the strength of an executive order from the Office of the President handed down during the time of President Ramos.
"Ang kuwenta ko, tingin ko nasa P25 billion siya," said Guiao, who considers the decision as the most consequential event since the creation of the PSC in 1990.
The lone petitioner in the case, Guiao stressed that the huge amount can help in the establishment of sports complexes around the country, and fund the training and campaigns of Filipino athletes for years to come.
"Masarap pakinggan, magandang isipin. Pero ang dapat makinabang dito yung mga atleta. Makalimutan na kami, ok lang yun. Pero at least sa next generations of athletes, may na-contribute kami," said Guiao.
"Ang dapat lang makinabang diyan yung bayan, yung athletes, at yung sports program sa grassroots level," he stressed.