Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) president Anthony “Tony Boy” Liao has pushed back against the executive board’s withdrawal of support, calling the move premature as the federation prepares to appeal its suspension and respond to issues raised by international volleyball authorities.
In a statement released Monday, Liao expressed disappointment at the public declaration by several members of the PNVF executive board, arguing that the federation has yet to fully present its case before the appropriate bodies. (Check out the full statement at the end.)
“We take serious exception to the public statement issued by several members of the PNVF Board withdrawing support from President Anthony ‘Tonyboy’ Liao,” the statement read.
“At a time when the Philippine National Volleyball Federation is preparing to pursue the proper appeal process and submit its formal response to the appropriate international bodies, this public declaration is premature, damaging, and risks prejudicing proceedings that have yet to be fully heard, reviewed, and decided.”
Why PNVF Is Embattled
The controversy stems from the ongoing governance crisis surrounding Philippine volleyball.
On May 29, the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball suspended the PNVF over governance concerns and alleged violations currently under investigation. The same day, the Philippine Sports Commission froze its funding support for the federation.
A day later, Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino said the POC would comply with the FIVB’s decision during its next General Assembly.
Pressure on the federation intensified on June 6 when a majority of the PNVF executive board formally withdrew support for Liao’s leadership.
Signatories to the statement included Chairman Arnel Hajan, Vice President Yul Benosa, Secretary-General Otie Camangian, Auditor Roger Banzuela, and board members Sherwin Maganda, Fr. Vic Calvo, OP, Danilo Cong-o, Marico Calleja-Uy, and Edward Lee.
The group cited what it described as a loss of trust and confidence in Liao’s leadership, along with concerns regarding governance, accountability, and transparency.
Liao, however, maintained that the issues remain unresolved and should be subjected to proper review before conclusions are reached.
“Most concerning is that the statement itself admits that the merits of the allegations remain subject to investigation and proper determination,” the statement said.
“Despite this admission, its signatories chose to publicly pre-judge the matter, undermine the federation’s appeal, and create the impression that a conclusion has already been reached before the full facts, records, and circumstances have been examined.”
Liao Undeterred
Despite the growing pressure, Liao indicated that the federation will continue preparing its appeal and formal response to address concerns raised by the FIVB and other stakeholders.
The latest development adds another layer of uncertainty to Philippine volleyball’s governance landscape, even as Alas Pilipinas continues its campaign in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Cup and preparations for future international competitions remain ongoing.
