Ramirez to return as PSC chairman – report

MANILA, Philippines – William “Butch” Ramirez will return as chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the government sports radio dzSR reported Wednesday, June 22.

Ramirez told anchor Judith Caringal he has accepted the offer in order “take care of some unfinished business.” These include reviving the Philippine Sports Institute, training centers and strengthen grassroots programs, he said.

“I have accepted to serve again Philippine sports… for the country and for President [Rodrigo] Duterte, I’m going back,” said Ramirez.

Ramirez, 65, told this writer in a text message last month he was not interested in returning to sports. But Sun Star Davao on Monday, quoting Duterte’s executive assistant Christopher Go, said the incoming president wanted Ramirez back in the PSC because he knows the job.

Ramirez replaced former star swimmer Eric Buhain as PSC chairman, leading the agency from 2005 to 2009. In those years, Ramirez oversaw the Philippines’ overall championship of the Southeast Asian Games in 2005 when it was held in Manila.

Ramirez will be taking over from Ricardo Garcia but it is not clear when Ramirez will take over.

Ramirez will have a bigger task on his hands as the Philippines’ fortunes in the Southeast Asian Games have slumped badly and few athletes have qualified so far for the Rio Olympics.

Ramirez will be the first chairman to return to the PSC, which came into force in 1990 although Garcia was a commissioner before he became chairman in 2010. – Rappler.com