NEWS
POC defers suspension of athletics’ federation

March 30, 2022 2:44 p.m.
THE Philippine Olympic Committee (POC)—in the spirit of sportsmanship and the approaching Lent—spared the Philippine Athletics Track and Field Association (Patafa) of the suspension ax, but not the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).
The POC General Assembly ratified on Wednesday its Executive Board’s decision to suspend the Philta for 90 days following its failure to heed the International Tennis Federation’s instruction to amend its charter and hold encompassing election of officers.
Forty-two (42) out of the 55 voting members of the POC ratified Philta’s suspension—more than a required two-thirds vote.
POC President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, however, deferred putting on the floor Patafa’s suspension.
“In the spirit of sportsmanship and because of the Lenten season, I deferred the move to suspend the Patafa as decided by the POC Executive Board,” Tolentino said. “And because of the unfinished mediation procedure between the Patafa and EJ [Ernest John] Obiena, a vote to suspend the athletics federation wasn’t offered to the GA.”
But Tolentino stressed that deferring the motion to suspend the Patafa would be on the agenda in next month’s GA.
“If the Patafa doesn’t endorse EJ [Obiena] in the next GA, the suspension will be decided on the floor,” said Tolentino after the hybrid GA held af the Grandmaster Hotel in Tagaytay City.
The POC Executive Board decided last early this month to suspend Patafa for 90 days on grounds bordering on Obiena’s issues with his national sports association, a conflict made worse by Patafa’s refusal to endorse the world-ranked pole vaulter to four major international competitions.
The next POC GA is set for the last week of April, or barely two weeks before the 31st Southeast Asian Games opens in Hanoi.
“For EJ’s smooth participation in the Vietnam SEA Games, the Patafa should be endorsing his participation,” said Tolentino, adding that the deadline for the submission of entries by names to the Hangzhou 19th Asian Games is on May 31.
Patafa didn’t put Obiena on its list of athletes for the Vietnam SEA Games, prompting the POC to endorse the Asian men’s pole vault record holder in its capacity as a national Olympic committee or NOC.
Obiena already missed the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade early this month, a lost opportunity for him to vie for the country’s first medal in the prestigious meet. He requested the Patafa to also endorse him to the Hangzhou Asian Games in September and the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, in July, but was turned down.
NEWS
Makati Business Club believes Customs chief Nepomuceno can reform, modernize agency

5:39 p.m. July 26, 2025
In a strong show of confidence from the country’s premier business group, Makati Business Club (MBC) Executive Director Rafael “Apa” Ongpin praised Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno during a recent high-profile interview, calling him a man of “great integrity” and a capable leader poised to reform and modernize the agency.
“We discussed him in Makati Business Club. Quite a few members are familiar with him — apparently, he came from the private sector. He has a good reputation,” Ongpin said, speaking on behalf of the business community’s early impressions of the newly appointed Customs chief.
Ongpin commended Nepomuceno’s intelligence and openness to innovation: “Apparently he’s very bright, he’s very up to date with technology — and he has great integrity. So, we have high hopes for this guy, Mr. Nepomuceno.”
Commissioner Nepomuceno, who previously held key roles in both government and the private sector, has been widely expected to bring a more results-oriented and transparent leadership style to the BOC. The endorsement from the MBC — an influential voice in Philippine economic policy and governance — adds momentum to ongoing reform efforts at Customs, long seen as a critical chokepoint in trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations.

Observers note that such public praise from the business sector underscores the importance of trust and modernization in government institutions.
Commissioner Nepomuceno, meanwhile, has previously vowed to lead the BOC with transparency, digitalization, and accountability as top priorities.
NEWS
Nepomuceno halts unserved raids to restore order, legality at customs

6:38 p.m. July 4, 2025
In a bold first act as head of the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno has ordered the immediate suspension of all unserved Letters of Authority (LOAs) and Mission Orders (MOs) issued before July 2, 2025—signaling a strong push to restore discipline, prevent abuse, and realign field operations with lawful and transparent practices.
The memorandum, issued on July 2, covers all LOAs and MOs across BOC’s Intelligence and Enforcement Groups that have not yet been served. This decisive move comes in response to mounting concerns raised by legitimate business groups over questionable raids and enforcement excesses that have disrupted operations and eroded trust. Nepomuceno further directed all concerned Deputy Commissioners to submit within 24 hours a full status report on LOAs and MOs issued from January 1 to June 30, 2025.
“This directive is a necessary reset,” Commissioner Nepomuceno said. “We must ensure that every enforcement action moving forward is legal, current, and in line with the Bureau’s renewed focus on professionalism, transparency, and institutional accountability.”
The suspension aims to prevent unauthorized, outdated, or improperly documented operations—long viewed as a breeding ground for irregularities and abuse in field enforcement. By halting these pending operations, Nepomuceno is asserting control and sending a clear message: the BOC will no longer tolerate loose, unsupervised, or potentially exploitative enforcement activities.
This policy shift comes in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to professionalize the bureaucracy and strengthen anti-smuggling efforts without compromising legal standards. Under Nepomuceno’s leadership, the BOC is expected to pursue aggressive reforms that prioritize lawful enforcement and rebuild public trust in the institution.
“This is not about slowing down enforcement—it’s about doing it right,” Nepomuceno emphasized. “Our fight against smuggling and corruption must be anchored in discipline, not discretion.”
With this sweeping measure, the new BOC chief sets the tone for a more accountable and reform-driven agency—one that enforces the law without fear or favor, and always within the bounds of its mandate.
NEWS
Nike signature athlete Ja Morant to inspire hoopers globally thru ‘Make Them Watch Tour’

7:19 p.m. July 3, 2025
Nike and Ja Morant are teaming up to inspire athletes around the world to bring their own creativity to the game with the launch of the Make Them Watch Tour: a four-country journey that further introduces Ja to the global basketball community.
For his first international tour as a Nike signature athlete, Ja will connect with hoopers in the U.S., China, Japan and the Philippines, helping the next generation shape the game in their local communities and discover their sense of style and expression on the court.
“Basketball is all about work and creativity — putting in that grind but also playing with your own style,” says Ja. “I’m excited to pull up and share a piece of my journey with the next generation of hoopers around the world, and I also want to check how basketball is played in their own communities. Getting to learn new cultures through hoops is a unique opportunity, and I’m hyped about that.”
The Make Them Watch Tour represents Ja and Nike’s commitment to giving back to the game: championing athletes, inspiring the next generation and fueling global basketball culture. The tour also reflects a shared belief in the power of basketball to build bridges between countries, challenge young athletes to chase their dreams, and create lasting impact among athletes and fans.
Further, the Make Them Watch Tour will celebrate what hoopers around the world love most about Ja: his undeniable, electric style of play; his hard work, creativity and self-expression; and his dedication to powering the future of the game.
Ja will kick off the Make Them Watch tour in Augusta, Georgia, by inspiring young hoopers at Nike Peach Jam, the brand’s premier Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL) tournament.
The tour will then take Ja to New York during a celebration of summer hoops in the city, Nike’s annual NY vs NY tournament.
From New York, Ja will travel to China, where he’ll host clinics and training opportunities for local hoopers and future stars in Mission Rise 2025, a program to give talented youth a shot to become the next world-class players. He’ll then continue to Tokyo to connect with local athletes and fans while building a deeper connection with Japanese culture.
The Make Them Watch Tour will conclude in Manila, where Ja will continue to lift up the next generation, create new experiences for athletes, learn local culture and grow the game. He’ll invite local high school players to watch his workout and inspire Filipino hoopers of all levels at a Make Them Watch exhibition game while in Manila, a hotbed of basketball culture.
For Ja, connection to the game and its culture also extends beyond the court, and he will use each stop on the Make Them Watch Tour to meet athletes and fans at Nike stores; experience the culture of the city; and explore local art, food and music.