Newly-elected Philippine Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission members Inna Palacios of football and Jessie Khing Lacuna of swimming are ready to be the bridge between the athletes and the officers of the POC.
Palacios, who garnered 61 votes during the elections last Saturday, is excited to work for the benefit of the athletes and is open to suggestions from past members of the Athletes’ Commission.
Joining her and Lacuna (83 votes) are Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Nesthy Petecio of boxing (121 votes), Asian pole vault record holder EJ Obiena (99 votes) and Gilas Pilipinas Women player Jack Animam (80 votes).
“I think we are in a really good position to represent the athletes and their needs and make sure they have the opportunity and environment where they can thrive. Not just being into the best athletes but also being better people,” said Palacios, a veteran member of the Philippine national women’s football team.
“With the guidance of the past Athletes Commission, we can do the job well and I think that’s what we want: A good representation of the athletes and to see sports here grow.”
The current members of the Athletes’ Commission will be in office until 2028.
Meanwhile, Lacuna, who is serving his second term in the Athletes’ Commission, told DAILY TRIBUNE he and Petecio are ready to lend their experience to the Obiena, Palacios and Animam, who are all serving their first term.
Petecio and Lacuna were part of the previous Athletes’ Commission composed of Tokyo Olympics gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz, two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Nikko Huelgas of triathlon, softball’s Cheska Altomonte, four-time SEA Games champion Samuel Morrison of taekwondo, and rugby’s Jake Letts.
