Puentevella scores Thai PM for 'irresponsible' statements
Iloilo -- Bacolod City Representative and noted sports personality Monico Puentevella reacted strongly at Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of Thailand for insinuating that the Philippine delegate to the Southeast Asian Games cheated.
'If he cannot accept defeat, then don't join,' the lawmaker remarked in a radio interview yesterday morning.
He noted that 'even Vietnam, which is running second (in the medals standing), did not complain. How much more Thailand.' Thailand is tailing Vietnam, the defending overall champion, in the latest medal standings for the biennial sports meets among nations in the region.
'How many medals does he really want?' Puentevella wondered, adding that if the Prime Minister wants medals badly, the Philippines could have specially-made gold medallions and give these to Shinawatra.
'That is very unfair and irresponsible,' he said. 'Maybe he's just ill-informed by Thai athletes who lost, and had to make up stories of why they lost.'
Puentevella pointed out that even Thai delegates to the Games did not complain to Events officials. 'I would have believed the complaint had it come from the delegates here. But no, I heard not one complaint from their delegates.'
He qouted one Thai official as having said that the officiating was 'good' and 'fair.'
'That is unbecoming for a leader to be saying those things,' he stressed. 'If he has complaint, make it official.'
He recalled that in previous SEAG held in other countries, the Philippines fared badly, and yet there was no complaint of biased officiating.'That is because we are not rude,' he said. 'In sports, you have to be a magnanimous winner, and a graceful loser.'
He explained that Filipino athletes performed well because of the crowd support.
'It is because of the crowds who are cheering for our athletes. When you have 15,000 people cheering, even cowards turn into brave, more so if the ones cheering are your mother, father, relatives, girlfriends,' Puentevella said.
When asked if he wants the Philippines to lodge a diplomatic protest against Thailand, he said that it is President Arroyo who will decide on that. 'I leave it up to the President, they're very good friends. But personally, I would't give it that much attention.'