By REYNALD MAGALLON
Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao welcomed the decision of the Supreme Court to affirm its earlier ruling that directed Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to remit a percentage of their earning to the Philippine Sports Commission in accordance to Republic Act. 6847 or the PSC Law.
The Highest Court of the Land ‘denied with finality’ the motion for reconsideration of PAGCOR and PCSO to the 2024 decision which also required the two institutions to “submit a detailed account of the annual amounts owed to the Philippine Sports Commission and actual remittances made each year, from 1993 to present for PAGCOR and from 2006 to present for PCSO.”
According to the PSC Law, PAGCOR AND PCSO are required to remit five percent of their annual gross to the PSC.
The PSC stands to receive an estimate of P33 billion which both PAGCOR and PCSO can settle over the next 10 years.
Though it’s been a long, arduous process, Guiao, who began his crusade for Filipino athletes when he filed the petition back in 2016, considered the decision a huge victory to Philippine Sports.
“It’s a long, hard struggle. And it’s actually been forgotten by a lot of people. But it’s a victory for Philippine sports,” said Guiao, who along with Atty. Jun Guzman received the final ruling on Friday, Dec. 5
“It’s just doing justice to Philippine sports in general, to our young athletes, to our grassroots programs, to our improvement of facilities, getting better coaches, getting better equipment, nutrition,” he added.
The fiery ROS mentor stressed that everything is for the future of Philippine sports, assuring that they have enough support from the government to become truly world class.
“I have no personal gain in this. After a while, I will be forgotten or this will be forgotten. But the important thing is the next generation of athletes are well taken care of,” he added.
