BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO City – Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. vowed to resolve the controversy hounding the participation and total loss of two teams of Ilongga girls from Zarraga, Iloilo in the Little League Softball World Series in Portland, Oregon (Aug. 7 to 13) and Kirkland, Washington (Aug. 10 to 16).
Guesting on Panay News’ “Reklamo Publiko” radio program on DyOK Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo, Defensor said he had asked Department of Education (DepEd) Iloilo Schools Division superintendent, Dr. Myrna Castillo to answer the charges leveled against her.
Castillo led two teams of softball athletes who represented the Philippines in the junior league in Washington and major league in Oregon.
The delegation officials were either employees of the division office or their sons and daughters — including Marian Grace Castillo Suiza and Nonie Mark Castillo, daughter and son of the division superintendent. The six “coaches” listed were not really coaches. Ironically, the only real coach, Rey Fuentes of Bacolod City, had been bumped off.
While Fuentes himself kept his mouth shut, his “sympathizers” expressed suspicion that the delegation officials merely wanted to secure a US visa and travel there at government expense.
“I will welcome any move by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for an investigation,” said Defensor.
The twin teams lost all their games. It also forfeited its first two games for failure to arrive in their scheduled matches. In the end, both teams placed 10th or last among 10 world-class teams.
Concerned individuals and athletes blamed the poor showing of the Ilonggos to the absence of qualified trainers and coaches.
The Philippine twin teams were composed of 24 athletes, six “coaches” and 10 DepEd officials who allegedly incurred some P4 million in expenses (plane fares, hotel accommodation, etc.) in touring the US.
The Little League World Series is an international non-government organization promoting baseball and softball, hence is not recognized as a DepEd sports affiliate.
Defensor admitted, however, that he had helped Dr. Castillo raise funds for the girls’ trip.
It therefore surprised him that they had not reached the Oregon games on time. They arrived two days late and missed their first two games.
The governor said that although the provincial government had in the past been supportive of various sports programs of DepEd, the Commission on Audit (COA) now regulates financial assistance from the Provincial School Board.
The governor disclosed that he was waiting for the report of the Iloilo Schools Division regarding the total solicitation it had collected.
The Iloilo/Philippine team bested 51 teams representing as many cities in the Asia-Pacific, thus entitling them to represent the region in the Little League United States competitions./PN
