The 'political suicide' Yeng Guiao took

Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao (middle) won a landmark case before the Supreme Court after nearly a decade, paving the way for potential multibillion-peso funding for Filipino athletes. (Photo: PSA/Facebook)

I have nothing but praise and respect for veteran champion coach Yeng Guiao for his courage in fighting for Filipino athletes before the Supreme Court.

His effort and perseverance compelled the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) to finally remit a share of their annual gross income to the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC). The process took nearly a decade, proving that justice may be slow but will still find its way. More importantly, this victory establishes a legal precedent that ensures future athletes will receive the funding they deserve, free from political interference.

For this reason, he deserved the President’s Award given by the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) during its annual awards night last February. Guiao is the first non-athlete to receive the honor.

“Coach Yeng took on a fight so formidable that no one dared join him in the battle. And he won. Every national athlete who dreams of bringing honor and glory to the country can now thank coach Yeng for the additional financial help they will receive as they pursue their podium dreams,” said PSA President Francis T.J. Ochoa, who's also the sports editor of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, in a media release.

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Much has been said about this triumph. Yet, this part of Guiao’s speech on Feb. 16 struck me most: “Maybe somebody had to commit political suicide so that Philippine sports can breathe some fresh air.”

Political suicide is “an unpopular action likely to cause significant harm to one’s reputation, electoral success, or power within an organization,” according to Political Dictionary.

Guiao filed the petition in 2016. At the time, challenging former president Rodrigo Duterte carried real risks. Duterte’s administration was known for brazen attacks against critics. Former senator and now Mamamayang Liberal Rep. Leila de Lima, a vocal critic of his brutal war on drugs, was imprisoned on drug charges she later beat in court. He also used his presidential powers to shut down ABS-CBN, one of the Philippines’ largest media networks.

Given that climate, no one dared join Guiao, who formerly served as Pampanga representative and Committee on Youth and Sports Development chairperson in the House of Representative during the 16th Congress. He and his legal counsel, pro bono lawyer Jun Guzman, are the only ones who stood for athletes’ rights to proper funding.

“Who would go to the Supreme Court and ask it to take away billions of funds from the Office of the President? It was political suicide. If the President gets angry, you’re dead,” Guiao said, as reported by Inquirer Sports.

Funds meant for the PSC from PAGCOR and PCSO had been diverted to the Office of the President’s discretionary funds since 1993 and 2006, respectively. These funds include items like confidential and intelligence funds and unprogrammed appropriations. Guiao’s gamble challenged this entrenched system, defying the habitual conformity to the status quo. His courage ensures that athletes’ welfare is no longer at the mercy of political expediency.

ALSO READ: Philippines’ biggest sports win wasn’t won on the court – it was in court

Athletes, coaches, and national sports associations have long clamored for consistent, appropriate funding. Kind words and applause matter, but they cannot feed families or bolster chances of winning in international competitions, including the Olympics, World Cups, or World Championships.

Maybe somebody had to commit political suicide so that Philippine sports can breathe some fresh air. – Yeng Guiao on receiving PSA President's Award

Stakes are even higher now, with the likes of Hidilyn Diaz-Naranjo and Carlos Yulo bagging Olympic gold medals in the country’s century-long participation in the global sports conclave. More than congratulations, our athletes need support. Guiao gave it to them with little to no benefit to him at all.

“This victory is a victory for athletes of the coming generation. It’s a victory for our sports leaders. It’s a victory for our countrymen in general,” he told Inquirer Sports. “I hope we can have more Caloy Yulos, more Hidilyn Diazes, more Alex Ealas, and EJ Obienas. I will be happy and satisfied that we’ve had a small part in that.”

Guiao will go down in history as a man who took a figurative leap into political death rather than stay silent. His bravery and sense of justice paved the way for the kind of change that Filipinos should yearn for.